25.

(COMMONS.) Mr. Hobhouse, Mr. Portal, Mr. J. O'Connell, March Mr. O. Lawless, and Mr. Scully, having spoken against the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill, and Mr. Muntz in support of it; Mr. Hume regretted to witness the retrograde policy of the ministry, who were about to undo the work of thirty years; stated that no proof had been given that the Pope's rescript was an aggression; and that the establishment of the hierarchy had been urgently demanded by the English Catholics themselves ; and concluded by saying that it was childish to adopt petulant measures against the introduction of a system which was merely a copy of one that has long existed and been recognised in Ireland. Sir F. Thesiger having argued against the insufficiency of the measure, in which he said he detected a crooked and timid policy, came to the determination, notwithstanding that the Minister had pruned away the second and third clauses of the original Bill, to vote for the second reading chiefly with the view of getting the measure largely strengthened in Committee. Mr. Gladstone concluded a long and able speech against the Bill by protesting against the present miniature of a penal law which might be a nullity in practice, but was a persecution to conscience and feeling-against this retrograde step towards religious intolerance, which it was disgraceful to attempt and impossible permanently to effect. Mr. Disraeli then addressed the House at considerable length, stating his conviction that this measure was insufficient, but that he should vote for the second reading, in the hope that the Bill might be improved in Committee. After a brief reply from Sir G. Grey, who contended that the legislature was justified in interfering and that the Government was well advised in constructing the Bill now offered for the adoption of the House, the second reading was carried by 438 to 95.

March

(LORDS.) Lord Lyndhurst called attention to the existence in this country of certain societies composed of foreigners who were 27. raising funds and endeavouring to disturb the peace of nations in alliance with England; and recommended the re-enactment of the Alien Act. Earl Grey said Government was aware of the existence of these societies; but deprecated a new Alien Act, as the tranquillity of this country was not threatened. The report on the County Courts Extension Bill was then brought up, and their lordships adjourned.

(COMMONS.) Viscount Jocelyn's motion for a Committee of inquiry on the state of the existing steam communication between England, India, and Australia, was agreed to, the inquiry being extended to the steam communication with China on the suggestion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Mr. Anderson called attention to the differential duties charged on British shipping in the ports of Spain, and moved on the plea of a just protection to our commerce that countervailing duties should be levied in English ports on goods imported or exported in Spanish vessels. After considerable discussion, during which Lord Palmerston stated that negotiations on the subject were pending between the two governments and were not unlikely to lead to a more liberal arrangement, the motion was rejected by 98 against 53. Lord J. Russell, in moving for leave to bring in a Bill for the better administration of the Court of Chancery, proceeded to discuss certain projects for the reform of that court; he then stated his intention to retain the present combination of the legal and political functions in the office of Lord Chancellor, but to give him the assistance of the Master of the Rolls and a common law judge; the salary of the Lord Chancellor should be 10,0007. with a retiring pension of 5,000l. It was further intended to transfer to the crown the ecclesiastical patronage now vested in the Lord Chancellor, the Prime Minister of the day to be responsible for its disposal. After a variety of comments on the proposal by Mr. Stuart, Mr. R. Palmer, Mr. S. Wortley, and Mr. Headlam, the Bill was read a first time. The report on the Appointment of a Vice-Chancellor Bill was received, Sir H. Willoughby's

motion to reduce the retiring pension from 3,500l. to 3,0007, being negatived by 49 against 32.

(COMMONS.) New writs were ordered for Devonport, South

March ampton, and Oxford city, in room of Sir J. Romilly, Sir A. Cock28. burn, and Mr. Page Wood, who had accepted respectively the offices of Master of the Rolls, Attorney-General, and Solicitor-General. Lord J. Russell, in stating the order of proceeding with the public business, announced that the Bill for the abolition of the Irish vice-royalty would not be introduced this session. The House was next occupied for a considerable time with the consideration of petitions respecting the St. Alban's and Aylesbury elections, the point mooted being that the Committee of selection had not given fourteen days' clear notice of its intention to strike the Election Committee as required by the Act of Parliament. After much debate a majority of 204 over 79 decided against the petitions. Col. Dunne's motion against abolishing the Royal Military Asylum at Kilmainham having been negatived by 137 against 105, the House went into Committee of Supply on the Army Estimates. On the first vote for 98,714 men, Mr. Hume moved a reduction of 5,000, which motion was negatived by 186 to 47. Another division took place on Mr. Williams's motion to report progress, which was defeated by 168 to 29. Mr. Hume then renewed the notice to report progress, which was agreed to.

March (LORDS.) Lord Lyndhurst took objection to the origination in the House of Commons of the Court of Chancery Reform Bill 31. and of another Bill respecting the appellate jurisdiction of the House of Lords, both of which measures ought to have originated with their lordships, affecting as they did their lordships' privileges. The noble and learned lord detailed his objections to the proposed measures, and especially to the proposition of transferring the ecclesiastical patronage of the Chancellor to the Prime Minister, and concluded by asking why the usual practice with respect to bills relating to the Court of Chancery had been departed from in this instance. The Lord Chancellor replied but did not answer, and after some observations from Lords Brougham, Grey, and Redesdale, the matter dropped.

(COMMONS.) The army estimates were voted in Committee and the resolutions reported to the House, which then read the Mutiny Bills, the Scotch Prisons Bill, and the Steam Navigation Bill, a second time, and the Apprentices and Servants Bill a third time.

1.

April (LORDS.) Lord Torrington, in moving that "a message be sent to the House of Commons for a copy of the evidence and report of the Ceylon Committee," entered into a detailed defence of his administration and government of the island. Earl Grey eulogised the noble lord's administration of Ceylon, and appealed to the Duke of Wellington to attest the difficulty of checking abuses during the existence of courtsmartial. The Duke, in a very characteristic speech, explained how he had been accustomed to act in reference to martial law, and protested loudly against being put in comparison in any way whatever with the noble lord (Torrington). The motion was agreed to.

(COMMONS.) The proceedings of certain foreign refugees in England was brought under the notice of the House by Mr. S. Wortley. Leave was given to bring in a Bill to amend the Coalwhippers Act. The Mutiny Bills passed Committee, and the Irish Medical Charities Bill was read a second time.

April (COMMONS.) The Compound Householders Bill passed Com

2.

mittee with amendments. Mr. Locke King moved and Mr. Hume seconded the second reading of the County Franchise Bill. A long discussion followed, during which it was urged by several speakers favourable to the measure to abide by the promise of an extension of reform made by

Lord J. Russell, who again said "that at the very commencement of the next session it would be desirable for Parliament to consider a measure for the extension of the franchise, and for amending certain defects which time had shown to exist in the Reform Act." On a division there were for the second reading 83, against it 299. Mr. Locke's Railway Audit Bill was read a second time.

(LORDS.) Lord Brougham moved the Committee on the County April Courts Extension Bill, which was opposed by the Lord Chancellor, 3. who moved that the Bill be considered in Committee this day six months. Lord Brougham warmly defended the Bill, which it was ultimately agreed to commit pro formâ, in order to introduce amendments.

The

(COMMONS.) Mr. Anstey's motion for a commission of inquiry into the operation of the laws touching the government of the territories under the administration of the East India Company, led to a long debate and was ultimately withdrawn. Lord J. Russell then moved the House into Committee to consider the mode of administering the oath of abjuration to Jews; the motion was, after considerable discussion, carried by 166 to 98. A resolution was agreed to in Committee, and the House on resuming gave leave to bring in a Bill founded upon it to repeal the Jewish disabilities. The Designs Act Extension Bill was then committed, Mr. Arkwright's motion to defer its consideration for six months having been negatived by 132 to 42. The Apprentices to Sea Service Bill, the General Board of Health Bill, and the Irish Process and Practice Bill, were severally read a second time. Mutiny Bills were read a third time and passed. April (COMMONS.) In a Committee of Ways and Means the Chancellor of the Exchequer entered into the details of the revised Bud4. get, adhering to his former statement with regard to the income, expenditure, and estimated surplus of the year. The important modifications of the former budget are-1. The entire repeal of the window duty and the substitution of a uniform house duty of 9d. in the pound on old and new houses of above 207. rent, and of 6d. in the pound on houses used as shops, inns, taverns, and farm-houses; 2. The equalisation of the coffee duties and their reduction to a rate of 3d. per pound; 3. The reduction of one-half of the duties now charged on foreign timber, that is, from 20s. a load on sawn timber to 10s., and from 15s. a load on hewn timber to 7s. 6d. The amount yielded by the house duty he estimated at 700,0007., which deducted from the amount of the window duty would leave a remission of 1,150,000%.; this, added to the proposed remission on coffee and timber amounting to 400,000%, and to a further reduction of 350,0007. in the sugar duties in July next, would make a total remission of taxes during the present year of no less than 1,900,000l. The balance at the end of the current year would be some 900,0007., against which a hint was thrown out that the demands of the Kafir war would have to be reckoned. After a long desultory debate a general vote of supply was agreed to and the House resumed, when the Acts of Parliament Abbreviation Act Repeal Bill passed through Committee. April (LORDS.) The Mutiny Bills and the Apprentices and Servants Bill were read a second time; the Church Building Act Amendment Bill a first time.

7.

(COMMONS.) On the motion for receiving the report of the Committee of Ways and Means, Mr. Herries moved a resolution to the effect that the income-tax had been intended as a temporary measure, and that the renewa should now be limited to such an amount as might be necessary in the existing state of the revenue to provide for the expenditure and for the maintenance of the public credit. A long debate ensued, in which the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Prinsep, Mr. F. Peel, Mr. T. Baring, Mr. J. Willson, and Mr. Brooker, were the principal speakers. On a division the

amendment was negatived by 278 against 230. Mr. Hume gave notice of a motion for restricting the renewal of the income-tax to one year. The report was then brought up and agreed to.

April 8.

(LORDS.) In Committee on the County Courts Extension Bill the Lord Chancellor repeated his objection to the clauses conferring equity jurisdiction on the judges of these courts. Lord Brougham defended the Bill, and quoted the authority of Lord Lyndhurst in favour of transferring a portion of the Master's business to local judicatures. Lords Cranworth and Campbell did not concur in the Lord Chancellor's objections. The clause then passed. Considerable discussion took place on several of the remaining clauses, and those relating to courts of reconcilement were struck out.

(COMMONS.) The motion of Mr. Trelawney for a Select Committee on the law of church-rates was discussed and agreed to. Lord Ashley obtained leave to bring in a Bill to encourage the construction of lodging-houses for the working classes. Sir H. W. Barron's motion for a Committee "on the state of Ireland, with a view to relieve the distress there existing," next occupied the House, and after a long debate was negatived by 138 against 129.

April

9.

(COMMONS.) The House met at noon and proceeded to discuss the three metropolitan market Bills. Mr. B. Denison withdrew the Metropolitan Cattle Market Bill; and Sir J. Duke moved the second reading of the Smithfield Enlargement Bill, which was opposed by Mr. Christopher, who moved the second reading this day six months-a proposal which, after long discussion, was adopted by 246 against 124. The Smithfield Market Removal Bill then came on for the second reading, which, after a short debate, was carried by 230 against 65, and the Bill was ordered to be referred to a select Committee.

April (LORDS.) The Mutiny Bills were read a third time and passed.

10. (COMMONS.) Considerable discussion took place in reference to the petition of one Edwards, who had been committed to prison by the St. Alban's Election Committee for an alleged breach of privilege. Sir W. Molesworth then brought on his motion upon the colonial expenditure, which he showed to be excessive. In the year 1846-7 (since which time there were no complete returns) the total colonial military expenditure amounted to 4,000,000l. He then reviewed the condition of the colonies in succession, stating what reductions ought to be made in each; and argued that our military stations should be as few as possible, and selected so as to cost as little as possible. With a proper system of colonial government no troops ought to be maintained in them except for imperial purposes; troops for local purposes ought to be paid by the colonies. Alluding to South Africa, he contended that the annexation of territory made on the termination of each war was merely sowing the seeds of another war; for the present war in that country Sir H. Smith and Earl Grey by their maladministration were responsible; the Cape of Good Hope was not worth the price that was paid for it. The honourable baronet concluded by moving two resolutions-one to relieve the country from the expenses he had denounced, and the other advocating the expediency of conferring ample powers of local self-government upon such of the colonies as were not military stations or convict settlements. Mr. Urquhart seconded the motion, which was opposed by Mr. Hawes, who moved the previous question. Mr. Adderley and Mr. Cobden spoke in favour of the motion, Mr. E. H. Stanley and Lord J. Russell against it. The debate was adjourned.

April

11.

(LORDS.) The County Courts Extension Bill was read a third time and passed. Lord Brougham then moved the second reading of the Law of Evidence Amendment Bill, the object of which was

to allow all the parties to a suit to be examined as witnesses. The Lord Chancellor criticised the Bill at some length, but consented to the second reading with the view of amending it in Committee. Lords Campbell and Cranworth having made a few remarks, the Bill was read a second time.

(COMMONS.) On the motion that the Speaker leave the chair for the House to go into Committee upon the Assessed Taxes Act, Mr. Disraeli developed at great length his views on agricultural distress, and concluded by proposing as an amendment "that in any relief to be granted by the remission or adjustment of taxation, due regard should be paid to the distressed condition of the owners and occupiers of land in the United Kingdom." A long debate followed, during which Mr. Labouchere, Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Alcock, Mr. J. Sandars, Mr. Bright, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Norreys, Lord J. Russell, Mr. M. J. O'Connell opposed the amendment; and Mr. Stafford, Lord J. Manners, Mr. J. Reynolds, Mr. Miles, Sir R. Peel, Col. Sibthorp, Mr. Keogh, Sir T. Acland, Mr. J. O'Connell, and Mr. Grattan supported the amendment, which on a division was negatived by 263 against 250. The House then went into Committee, but almost immediately resumed and adjourned.

April (LORDS.) The Church Building Act having been read a 14. second time, Lord Stanley presented a petition from British Guiana, praying for an alteration in the representative system of that colony. As Guiana was a crown colony, the noble lord hoped that Government would, as it had the power, give the colonists the benefit of direct representation. Earl Grey in his reply inclined rather to the improvement of the existing system than to substitute an untried scheme. After some further discussion their lordships adjourned to May 1.

(COMMONS.) Mr. E. Ellice reported from the St. Alban's Election Committee that Mr. Jacob Bell, the sitting member, had been duly elected; and gave notice of a motion for a commission of inquiry into the customary gross corruption practised in that borough. The case of Edwards, who had been taken into custody for keeping out of the way witnesses who it was said could prove bribery on the part of the agents of Mr. Jacob Bell at the late election for St. Alban's, occupied the House for a considerable time; an adjournment of the discussion was carried by 108 to 87. The House then went into Committee, and agreed to resolutions for carrying out the proposals of the Chancellor of the Exchequer with respect to a house duty, the equalisation of the coffee duties, and the reduction of the timber duties. The House subsequently went into Committee on the army estimates of the non-effective services. On resuming, the Expenses of Prosecutions Bill was read a third time and passed; the Stamp Duties Assimilation Bill and Exchequer Bills Bill passed Committee; and the Sale of Arsenic Regulation Bill was read a second time.

April (COMMONS.) The case of Edwards was again debated, and he 15. was committed to Newgate. Mr. Adderley moved an address to the crown for the appointment of commissioners to proceed to South Africa and report on the best mode of adjusting the relation between Great Britain and the Kafir tribes. Lord J. Russell moved as an amendment the appointment of a select Committee to inquire into the relations between Great Britain and the Kafir and other tribes in South Africa. A long debate followed, after which Mr. Adderley's motion was lost by 129 against 59, and the amendment carried by 128 against 60. The House then adjourned till the 28th inst.

April (COMMONS.) The Income Tax Bill was read a second time after a short debate. The Stamp Duties Assimilation, the Exchequer Bills, and the Indemnity Bills, were read a third time and

28.

passed.