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Febrttaby 14,1857.] THE Ii E A..ID EJR. ...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Imperial Parliament. —?—Monday, February...
bills are passed without dueconsideratipnof the mode in which the existing law affects them , and in which they affeefc the existing law . That is the case when they are originally introduced ; feat the evil is still more aggravated by alterations innumerable being made in them in their progress through Parliament . The introducer of a hill is often troubled with applications from a - variety of parties , and , -when be finds that lie can conciliate opposition by adopting some new clauses , he is apt to do so , and material alterations not contemplated at the time are made . He ( the Lord Chancellor ) proposed that an officer should be appointed , with a sufficient staff—at
least one or two persons under him—whose duty it should be to attend to all "bills that are referred to him , and to report exactly what the state of the existing lawis , and how the proposed alterations would affect that law . The Lord Chancellor concluded by giving some ludicrous examples of the errors which frequently creep s into acts of Parliament for want of the supervision which he now proposed to establish . — -Lord Campbell gave his hearty support to the contemplated measure , and the motion-was agreed to . —A similar committee , for the same purpose , was grauted by the House of Commons on the motion of Lord Pauvierston . Their Lordships , on rising , adjourned to Thursday .
HYPOTHECATION OF GOODS AND WARKAKTS . In the House of Comaeons , in reply to an inquiry by Mr . Grbqson , whether , 3 n consequence of the doubts thrown by the courts of law upon the validity of advances on the liypothecation of geods or warrants , it was intended to introduce any bill upon the subject , Mr . Lowe , after explaining the case of <; Kingsford v Mcrrv , " stated that Government would be willing to introduce a bill as soon as it is satisfied that the measure would meet the wishes of -the mercantile community .
LIGHTHOUSES IN THE CHINA SEA . Major Sibthokp asked the Vice-President of the Board of Trade whether aJiy steps were being taken by the Government towards the diminution of risk to shipping by the erection a lighthouse on the reef known as the Protas Shoals , in the China Sea ?—Mr . Lowe said that some steps had been taken in the direction indicated , but with no decisive result . There was a difficulty with respect to ? aisuig funds .
DESTITUTION OF SOLDIERS "WIVES AT COLCHESTER . Sir John Tyjiell called attention to a statement in a Chelrasford paper to the effect that about three hundred and fifty soldiers' wives and children are living in a state of extreme destitution near the huts at Colchester . He wished to know whether the attention of Government had been called to the subject . —^ Ir . F-REdeiuck Pbel . said he had made inquiries at the Horse Guards , and'th ^ y had received no information , on . the subject , nor i » ad anv complaiuts been made .
SIR JOIIM M ' NEILL AND COLONEL TULT . OOH . Mr . Joseph Ewakt asked Lord l ' nrmerstcm whether it is the intention of Government to make any recognition of the services of Sir John 11 'Neill and Colonel Tulloch in the Crimea ?—Lord Pa-Ljeeuston answered that those gentlemen had performed their duty to the satisfaction of the Government , and much to their own credit . Their report would prove useful as regarded the future ; but it did not appear that the service was of that peculiar nature which required extraordinary recognition or honour . JOINT-STOCK BANKS . The Chancellor of the Exchequer , in answer to Mr . Hicaudo , stated that lie had no present intention of appointing * committee to inquire into joint-stock banks ; but on an early day he should state the course Government intends to take .
THE ALLEGED TKKATY WITH AUSTKIA . Mr . Diskauli again brought forward this subject , and reiterated and enlarged on his former assertions , lie stated that a secret treaty was signed by 1 'Vjiucc oh December 22 nd , 1854 , guaranteeing to Austria her Italian possessions ; that the linglish Government ( Lord Aberdeen ' s ) wa-s jirivy to the fact , and gave its warm approbation and cordial concurrence ; and that the treaty had been largely and extensively acted upon with their knowledge . Ho took great credit to hhnat'lt for having , eight years ago , asserted that a guarantee
h ad been given in the Treaty of Vienna by Great Britain to Prussia of her Saxon provinces—an assertion which was afterwards proved to be correct , though Lord Palrnerston , then the Foreign Secretary , denied the fact . If h « ( Mr . Disraeli ) were furnished with the foreign correspondence of December , 1851 , and January , 18 oi > , ho could equally prove his present assertion . Ho must not , however , be understood as objecting to the secret treul . y whicli he alloged to exist : on tho contrary , he thought its provisions wise , temperate , and conservative ; but he accused tlie Government of pretending to pursue a policy which in secret they were contradicting .
Lord I ' almicuhton said he had not lhu least intention ot throwing any discredit on tho good faith of Air . Uisraeli ; but iio must repeat Unit lie hod boon the victi m of iui imposition , to which ho hud given too credulous an car . To the best of his ( Lord L ' almorston ' s ) bc-li .-f , no hucIi troaty existed ; raor had Mr . I > iar : iuli given any prooi of it . l ^ \ VM on iy hearsay authority , ami thv Th P ° - informaut lllul i » ° t I'M * i ; ivc » <» * - lion ™ . uoireoaier then proceeded to nuiJiu an admi . ssion : — - * naYc , m > to say that tho only foundation for the
statement of the right hoii . gentleman is this—that , in the early part of the war -with Russia , when some hope was entertained that Austria would have joined her forces to those of the Allies , she entered into a communi cation with France , which was known to the two powers ; the object of Austria being to ascertain ¦ whether , she joined her forces with those of the Allies in the war in the East , France would undertake that no advantage should be taken of the opportunity to disturb her Italian provinces . The French Government assured Austria that they would not encourage any risings or disturbances in Italy ; and , moreover , that if the Austrian armies joined with those of France and England in the war , and disturbances broke out in Italy , the French forces in Italy ( which "were but small in number ) would act with those of Austria as far as their limited sphere
extended , for the protection , not of the Austrian possessions , but of the general state of the territorial possessions of the powers of Europe . This arrangement was undoubtedly known to the English Government ( cheers from the Opposition )—and a very proper arrangement it was , for it would have been inconsistent with the proposed alliance if any other course bad been taken ; and that arrangement was certainly put into the shape of a convention , which , as the right hou . gentleman says , was signed in December , 1854 . I can only say that information reached ns yesterday , by which we are assured that it never was signed . " His Lordship went on to say that the convention was only temporary ; that it differed entirely from the permanent treaty alleged to be in existence ; and that , to the best of his knowledge , there was no other foundation whatever for the assertions made by Mr . Disraeli . The subject then dropped .
THE INCOME-TAX . Major Reed , after some observations , withdrew the resolution , of which he had given notice respecting the Income-tax , pending the financial statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer . : VAGRANT CHILDBED . Sir S tafford Nortxicoxe moved for leave to bring in a bill to make better provision for the care and education of vagrant , destitute , and disorderly children , and for the extension of industrial schools . The effect of the bill was the same as that which had been passed for Scotland ; so that the House had sanctioned the principle , though the details of the present measure were somewhat different . ;—After a few words from Mr . Baillie Cochrake , Mr . Kustnaihd , and Sir George GrtEY , * vho did not oppose the motion , leave was given .
SALE OF BEER . The House having- resolved itself into a committee , Mr . Hardy-moved- that -the chairman be instructed to move for leave to introduce a bill to amend the laws relating to the general sale of beer by retail , and to regulate certain places of public resort , refreshment , and entertainment . He showed the necessity for this bill by quoting facts which prove that the granting of licenses to beer-shops is very lax ; that the Excise will sometimes errant licenses after the magistrates have
withdrawn them ; that robberies and other offences are frequently planned in low beer-shops ; and that spirits arc easily obtainable at places where there is no spirit license . Ho proposed to subject to police ¦ surveillance all niglvt coffee-shops , & c . —Sir Gkorgk Grey , observing that the whole question was as to the best means of preventing drunkenness , deferred liis opinion upon the measure until lie saw its provisions . —A short discussion ensued in the committee , and , the motion being agreed to , leave was given to bring in the bill .
CONTHACTS FOK THE TUIil . IC DKrARTarEXTS . On the motion of Colonel Dunnk , the select committee to inquire into the principle adopted for making contracts for the supply of the public departments , and the effect which the present system has upon the expenditure of public money , was rcappointed . KCCLliSlASTICAL COItrORATIONS . The ^ rarquiri of JiLANUFo r . i ) obtained leave to bring in a bill further to provide for the mode of securing uml inlying fixed incomes to ecclesiastical corporations , aggregate and solo . The bill was the sumo in principle as the bills which had been read a . second time , Uie difference in the details being improvements of the measure .
CHIKF CONSTA 1 JLHSSir Gicokgk fiimr obtained leave to bring in a bill to fticililuUt the appointment of chiiif constable for adjoining counties , and to coiilirni appointments of chief constables in certain cases . The other business was then disposed of ; and at halfpast cij ^ lit o ' clock the House adjourned .
\ Vt : duesd < ty , February lit / i . VKIVATK 151 U . S . Several private bills were ; rend a second time ; ono of which- —the Mkkhky Connkiwancv a % i > Dock Uii . i , — was oppOHfid by Mr . Hoitsi'AU ., on ( he . ground thai , it . would & rontly interfere with the Pock Trust of Liverpool , ivliich in a pnblics trust , ninn : igc : d gratuitously by imtiviilimls selected from the leading lucrdiantrt and shipowners of tho town . — -Mr . Kwaist and Mr . IIkadi . am K <«]> T >« rled this ; inifiidnii : nt . —Mr . Mii . nkk Giukon warmly < lefen < led the bill , and m , tint ; iiuod that ilie ; inonsiir *! was i | efi :. \ nc ( l to ^ ive Hied to I ho i-eeoniineml : i lions of tin ; Admiralty , tins Tidal ( , ' ominihsiou , u select committee of the Ho ' of Commons , and the
requirements , of an Act of Parliament for consolldatingthe Liverpool and Birikenhead Docks into one great trust . — Mr . Lloy » Davies , Mr . Vernon , Mr . Spoonkr , and Mr . Hakcoukt spoke on the same side ; and 31 r . Hobsfall having withdrawn his amendment , the Bill was read a second time . JUDGMENTS EXECUTION BILL . The second reading of this bill was opposed l ) y Colonel French , who objected to the proposal for gi-ving judgments issued by an English court validity in Ireland .
He moved as an amendment that the bill should bo read a second time that 3 ay six months . —This was seconded by Sir . M'SIahox , who urged that in various cases the bill would work great injustice . —Mr . Blani > , Mr . George , Mr . Hughes , and Mr . Napietr strongly objected to the bill , which was supported by Ttf r Hadfield , 3 Ir- Fitzoerald , and the Attorney-General . Upon & division , the second reading was carried by 56 against 46 . On the motion of Sir Francis IJarixo , the Gommitteeon Public Moneys was reappointed .
1 hursday , February 12 th . GUEKCE . In answer to the Marquis of Clanrica'RDB :, Lord Clarendon explained the circumstances ( already well known to the public ) which led to the occupation of Greece by English and French troops . These troops have never been removed from the Piraeus , and they would , have been withdrawn from the country last autumn , but for a suggestion on the part of -: the Greek Government that the instalment it was about to pay on the interest of the loan should be applied to the internal improvement of the country . The English , French , and Austrian Governments would not accede to th ^ t proposal , because they were not clear that the sura might not have been much greater , and that tie internal
revenue of the country might not be more j & ourieliing The Greek Government tb-en challenged the three Powers to inquire into the finances of Greece . " The proposal , " continued Lord Clarendon , " was laid before us as creditors of that Government , and as creditors v < c proposed to institute the inquiry . The suggestion of a commission of inquiry was made known to the Russian Government , who signified their assent , and proposed to take part dn it . Some delay lias taken , place in settling tie real attributes of this commission , and its duration . The proposal , however , has been accepted In the most frank and cordial manner by the Greek Government , as it was made to them in a perfectly friendly spirit . We have no intention whatever to interfere in the internal affairs of the kingdom , and the commission will last no longer than will permit the fulfilment of its purpose . "
SECONDARY PUNISITMENTS . The Marquis of Salisbury moved for a select committeo to inquire into the subject of secondary punishments . —Lord Gr > ANVir . LK opposed trie motion ,, on the ground that the House was not yet in possession of tho plan proposed by Government ; and that , until the House had arrived at some clciinitc notion of the subject-matter of the proposed inquiry , it would be useless to appoint the committee . —Lord Staniiopk , who had moved theapporntment of a sinilar committee last year , thought that the time for deliberation was past and that lor action come . lie therefore joined in opposition to the desired committee . —Lord Cajh-uki . l agreed with the opinions expressed b y the last speaker , and said ke
looked upon transportation as the only punishment which affords a reasonable chance of reformation to the criminal . Ho also painted a gloomy picture of tho lawless condition of the country , aud seemed to regard with some admiration tlie penal laws of tho reign of Henry VIII ., when all who btolo to the value of twelvcpencc were " strung up . "—Earl Fitz-wilijam ridiculed this speech , and said it was " a satire on the Legislature of the country . " We must begin by teaching children to be honest , and nut merely provide punishment . —Viscount 1 ) ux <; anno « supported the motion . — Lord liAVKN . swoKrjr , who had a notice on tho pnper to call the-attention of the House to the ncccssitv which existed for the formation of u harbour of refuge on
the north-eastern coast , for the protection of ( shipping and commerce , and to suggest the employment of convict labour in the ; construction of the same , mentioned that two deputations consisting of very influential gentlemen engaged in commerce , had waited upon the Government mid pointed out tho necessity of mch n harbour of refuge . Ho ( Lord Ravensworth ) thought thnti cunvict labour might bo em ployed on tbia iw well as other public works ; and ho road from a letter of Lord Wensleydule in support of this opinion . —1 . * mcL Stanltctt of AfJMUiiiEY said the ( Jovernrnont was not prepared to enter upon wor-lcs of that'nature , the oxpenwc of which would be more than could bo met . —Lor-d Vivian thought no works could ho of moro utility . —The motion wna then negatived without a division .
TJIIS llOMI ( AUU 31 i : NT OK CANTON ' . In tho IIoi ; ni-: oir Commons , Mis . ( Joudkn gave notice th / it , on thuL day fortnight , ho would niovn tlan two following resolutions : — "That thin lluusu hoard with concern of tho conflicts wludi luivo occurred btstwecu tho Hriti . 'th and Chinese authorities on the Canton river , and without oxpriiH ; -ingany opinion how far tho ( Jovornnicnfc of ( Miina bud nfTonlod cause of complaint by jiou-fullilment of tho trcity of 1812 , considers lhu lutiier . i laid
Febrttaby 14,1857.] The Ii E A..Id Ejr. ...
Febrttaby 14 , 1857 . ] THE Ii E A .. ID EJR . 147
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 14, 1857, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_14021857/page/3/
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