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Kg£ T^LEL LEA DJE R. [No. 325, Saturday,...
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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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( Iiterial Parliament. V. ¦ ¦ ' - : ¦ - ...
ment of ' wience « nd « rt trader the control of the Pres ** dent of the Council , and in starting various schools and aammaries , ho was still of opinion that much more might be done , and that the different separate efforts mSit . be 8 j « fcematteed . The Brituh Museum _ being overstocked , it might be advisable to remove the Natu-3 ? S £ tory department to the west end of the town . TJto ' merite ofloientiflc men are not sufficiently recognized by Government j and , as he wished to see a greater recognition , he suggested that there should he an order ofmerit for men of learning , as well aa for generals and sdtnirals , and that patents should be granted for less nia & ty . .
_ ..... , 'At this and at three subsequent periods of the discussfcn , motions were made that the House might be counted ; but , before the glass had runout , sufficient members dropped in to secure the requisite forty , and , having stayed during the count , again left the House with about twenty members in it . Mr . Mackimnon objected to the proposed plan . Grants of public money would never aid science ; they never had done so ; all the greatest discoveries were made by men of genius , not by university men . He believed that mathematical knowledge was far more extensive in France than in this country . —The
Chanckllor of the Exchequer observed that the terms of the motion were so vague that he did not think any good could result from it ; and he therefore advised its withdrawal . —Mr . Txtb supported the motion , and Lord Stanley suggested that Mr . Heywood should not press his motion then , but consult eminent scientific men as to the specific measures which it was desirable for the Government or the House to adopt for the furtherance of bis object . —? Lord Palmerston concurred with the Chancellor of the Exchequer in thinking that the motion had no practical tendency ; and Mr . Heywood consented to withdraw it .
; RIGHTS OF WOMEN . - Sir Erskxete . Perry called attention to the state of the law of property as it affects married women , and moved tfia . following resolutions : —" That the rules of the common law which give all the personal property of a woman on marriage , and all subsequently acquired proparty and earnings , to the husband , are unjust in principle and injurious in their . operation . That the principles qlConrts of Equity which recognise separate property in gr qfiiuTied woman , and invest her , with respect to such property , "mth all the . rights of ownership , are in accordance with tbj & ' requirements of , the age , and in conformity with the opinions and usages of the wealthier and better instructed classes of society . That in the opinion of this
House , rthe . conflict between law and equity on the subject ought to be terminated by a . general law , ba 3 ed on t & i principles ! ' of equity , which should apply to all classes . " By '^ Ke old English lavjr there could be no doubt that , a wife ., " succeeded / on equal terms to the cicfynmbn property of her husband ; she took one-third of t & e land , Anda third of the personal property ; bit , except in Scotland , ' no n such' early distribution exist ? in this < 3 nmtry " at , the . present day . The decrees of the legal trnranals of tne Country have abrogated this ' old Eiiglisb . la ' w , !? bS <| deprived married women of their rights , wlme the busbarid " has acquired the right , from the same source , , ^ f dealing with \ the property of his wife just SITTiS thinksfti . The lawhad notbeeiiychaniged by any act 6 f the Legislature , but solely by ttie decisions of the
Judges . According to ; the dictum of the common law , a married woman has no'iright to personal property ; but the equity courts recognise and act upon the very oppositeprinciple . ' Equity deals with the personal property 6 F . a wife Ss though she were a single woman ; but the common law holds that' it belongs to the husband . These diametrically opposite views of the law had arisen out of the' decisions of different Judges ; and the object of Ms bringing this question now before the Hdttse was to elicit An opinion as to which of these two' principles is the sound one to apply to the case of married women . SW thought also -that the abflord law should be abrogated " b ^^ which' ' a husband ia made responsible for debts his wife 'may haver' contracted before her marriage , and of which he may have been utterly ignorant .
The Attorney-General admitted the truth of Sir Erakine Perry ' s strictures on the present state of the law , Kat urged him not to press his motion , as' the Government had determined to introduce a measure on the subjebt next year . —Mr . Maltns considered the alterations uncalled for , and that they would be contrary to the law of God . The interests of husband and wife should be held to be perfectly identical ; and , if a woman Hh 4 tiot full confidence in a man , let her refrain from marrying Turn . ' ¦ ' ¦ Sir Erskine Perry wished to set up a Separate establishment for man and' wife . As the law JWnds , however ; a wife can protect herself by applying
W »* he > oburt of equity . —Mr . Muhtz pointed to the fctoislty loir some better law of divorce .. —The Solioi"KJlfc-GKirEHXi , " while acknowledging the grievances «< w ! Pl « in ^ oV « ttged the withdrawal of the motion . — Mr . Whsemidb and Mr . Collier thought the discuasion showed the nWaeaUy that exists for a Minister of Justice . *—Mr . J . Gh PabxxJacoxta believed that some amendment was required in the law of divorce , but he trusted that 'Hie legislature would 'maintain unbroken the identity of Iftttttoet ; between husband and wife . Nothing could ^ Jtedy b © more ; frightful than to teach ' wives that their ttitWMts **• ty \ one aide , ' and thosd of their husband on "VoJj ' rn : i-, in ; jji . ii . < . . < . ; .
-th » other . —( Cheers . )' - He -thought there-were many matters in which we might usefully follow : the example of foreign nations ; but , if there was one thing in which foreigners might learn of us , it was the relations which existed in this country' between husband and wife . ( Loud cheersJ)—Mr . Chambers regarded the : proposed principle as vicious ; while , ; on the other hand , Mr . W . J . Fox advocated a change - in the existing law . —Sir Ersktne Perry , in consenting to withdraw his motion , on the faith of the Government promise , remarked that all the arguments which had been put forward against the resolutions were from the " husband" point of view , but that the House was bound to consider other interests as well .
ME . ARCHER ' S PATENT FOB POSTAGE LATTCTfl . Mr . Whttesedb moved for a select committee to inquire into the circumstances of the purchase of the machine and invention for perforating postage labels by the Government , from Mr . Archer , the inventor ; and also into the circumstances under which the existing agreements between the Government and the contractors for gumming and printing the postage and receipt labels were made . Mr . Wbiteside complained of the shabbinessj if not injustice , with which Mr . Archer bad been treated by the Treasury in their determination to perpetrate a job in favour of other parties . —Mr . Wilsow
made an explanatory statement , with a view to showing that Mr . Archer had nothing to complain of ; and expressed a hope that the House would not consent to unsettle an arrangement made , with the utmost -deliberation , so long ago as 1853 . —Mb . Grogan and Mr . Muntz supported inquiry ; the Chancellor of the Exchequer opposed it . —Mr . Lloyd Davibs did not see that Mr . Archer had any grounds of complaint , but he would support inquiry into the other points . — Mr . Whitesidb replied ; and the House divided , -when the motion was negatived by 57 to 39 . The House was counted out at midnight .
Wednesday , June ilth . THE NAWAB OF SCBAT . The House of Commons was on Wednesday morning occupied for a considerable time in discussing the abstract question involved in the Nawab of Surat Treaty Bill , which purported to be a private bill , and which came before the House upon the consideration of the report of the committee . —Mr . Vbrnon Smith , premising that the report expressly . declared that the committee had considered themselves precluded from giving any . opinion upon questions of a constitutional and political character connected with the case ,. and tlat the evidence was not before the House , moved to defer the consideration of the report until "Wednesday next .- —Sir Fit ^ roy Kelly resisted delay , and moved , by way of amendment , that the bill be read a third time . He entered very fully into the merits of the case , which was
a claim by Meer Jaffier Ali Khan to an annuity of 150 , 000 rupees , granted under a treaty -with tie Indian Government to the then Nawab of Surat and hia heirs , the essential point in tbe question being , whetlier the grant was made to the heirs natural of the Nawab or to his heirs being successors in the Nawabship . —Sir James Hogg defended the East India Company , and stated thai ; the office of Nawab was not hereditary . If the present claimant had any just rights to enforce he should have submitted them to the tribunals of the country , and not to the House of Commons . —After a lengthened discussion , in . which Mr . Cardwell , Sir Erskine Perry , Mr . Wigram , Sir James Graham , Sir Charmis Wood , and other members , took part , Sir Fitzroy Kelly withdrew hia amendment , on the understanding that the bill would be proceeded with on Wednesday next , by which time further papers on the subject would be in the possession of the House .
The Spirit Trade ( Ireland ) Bill was withdrawn , after a short discussion . On the order for the reception of the report on the Earl of Perth and Melfort ' s petition for leave to ftring in a Compensation Bill for tbe loss of estates confiscated from tho Earl ' s ancestors for their adhesion to the cause of the Stuarts , it was agreed to recommit the bill to a committee of the whole House noxt Monday . Thursday , June 12 th . THE ENCUMBERED ESTATES COURT . The presentation in the IIousis of Lords of a petition from Lord Mount-Gashell , complaining of the operation of the Irish Encumbered Estates Court , gave rise to some conversation , and a statement from tuo Lord Chancellor that it was intended to bring in a short continuance bill , in the event of the bill now before the House of Commons , providing for the tranoferonce of the powers of the Encumbered Estates Court to the Irish Court of Chancery , being rejected .
The Drafts on Bankers Bill was read a third time , and passed . The committee on the Reformatory and Industrial . Schools Bill was postponed , after aoiao depreciatory observations from tbe Earl of IIardwickb , who thought that reformatory schools have a dungorous tendency , aa offering a premium to the parents of certain classes of children to set them to commit crimes- .
THM SARDINIAN LOAN . In the IIousb of Commons , the Chanokllok of the Exckkquur brought down a message from tho Crown , informing tho House of tUo convention with tlio King
of Sardinia , by which England engages tor furnish a lorn of 1 , 000 , 000 / . sterling . A copy of the convention was laid before the House ; and , on the motion of the Chascellob of thb Exchequkb , it was ordered that the message be considered next Thursday . COUNTY COURTS BILL . Mr . Roebuck asked Sir George Grey whether it waa really the intention to pass the County Courts Billthrough the House of Lords . If the bill was only to be used for the purpose of staving off a -very discreditable question in that House , he could assure the right ion gentleman that he was not to be got rid of in that wav " but that he should , if necessary , bring forward the subject by submitting a resolution . —Sir George Gbey said that he had communicated with the Lord Chancellor who expected that the bill referred to would leave the House of Lords in about a week or ten days . With regard to the other assertions of Mr . Boebuck , he met them with a direct denial . THE UNITED STATES . Some discussion arose between Mr . Baillie and Mr . Disraeli on the one side , and the Chancellor of the * Exchequer on the other , with reference to bringing on the Army Estimates the following evening . In connexion with that occasion , Mr . Baillie had given notice of a motion on the subject of our relations with the United States , and he alleged that Lord Palmerston had promised to give him due notice of bringing on the estimates , in order that he might be prepared with his motion j but , together with Mr . Disraeli , he thought that a breach of engagement had been committed in proceeding so suddenly with the estimates . —The Chancellor of the Exchequer , under these circumstances , postponed the consideration of them , without mentioning any fresh day . —Mr . Baillie then said he thought it right to state that he did not intend to adhere to the motion of which he had given notice . In consequence of the important events' which had taken place in America , he should give notice of the terms of his motion when the time for bringing it on was fixed .
CIVIL CONTINGENCIES . The House having gone into Committee of Supply , considerable discussion ensued on the vote of 100 , 000 / . for civil contingencies , which Sir Francis Baring moved to reduce to 30 , 0007 . He believed that the Treasury had a balance in hand sufficiently largo to render it unnecessary that they should now be furnished with a greater sum than that to which he would reduce the vote . Even then , they would have an ample maTgin to meet any possible chance of excess . —Mr . Wilson , on the part of the Treasury , consented to modify the vote to 90 , 000 ? . 60 , 000 / . of previous votes , he stated , were to be returned to the Exchequer under the head of " savings . " —After considerable , but rather
unimportant discussion , tbe motion was ¦ withdrawn . —In the course of the desultory conversation connected ivith this vote , objection was expressed by Mr . Blackburn and Mr . Lloyd Davies to a sum of 1001 . for drawing up the Oxford University Bill , and Mr . Wilson intimated that the money was paid to Mr . J . Q . Phillimorc for his valuable assistance . Subsequently , Mr . Gladstone , who said he had had a share in advising the payment , explained that it was considered advisable to have the assistance of Mr . Phillimore ' s learning and experience in drawing the bill ; but he admitted that the principle was one which it was not advisable to have established , and that it was right the House should view it with a jealous feeling . —In answer to Mr . Mowbeay , Mr . Wilson said the account for tho fireworks had not
been received , and therefore he could not give information respecting it . The expense provided for was that which was extraneous to the department whero tho fireworks were made ; some of the expense , therefore , was borne by that department . This explanation , Lord IIotham conceived to be at variance with tho distinct assurance of the Chancellor of tho Exchequer that the whole expense would be included in the 8 , 000 / .
EDUCATION . Sir Georoe Grey proposed a grant of 151 , 231 / . aa tho balance of the vote for education , in addition to a sum of 300 , 000 / . already granted on account . In tho speech with which he prefaced this motion , Sir George reminded the House that , since 1839 , tho year in winch the first grant was made for this purpose , two millions sterling have been placed by Parliament in tho hands or tho Committeo of Council on Education , and by them distributed in aid of tho voluntary efforts made in tlio cause of national instruction . For tho first ton years subsequent to 1839 , tho sum annunlly placed at tlio disposal of tho Committeo of Council was 80 , 000 « ., out in no one of theso years had that sum been actually exbalance wlucii
ponded . There always remained a , , tho course of time , accumulated to a considerable Bum . Since then , however , tho reverse has lieon tho caso ,, tno expenditure exceeding tho grant . The nnnunl 6 rftmH during tho last eix y ears , beginning with 186 U an ending with 1855 , were respectively , on » ttI"fi T shillings , 193 , 000 / ., 104 , 000 / ., 188 , 000 / ., 260 , 000 ft , 826 , 000 / ., und 090 , 000 / . Although it would appear uiu the expenditure had boon leas than tho vote , ho yvl ! inL ., the House to understand that tho outlying grants ffo « full y exhaust it . Tho schools built in tho samo yen wore severally 285 , 205 , 232 , 273 , HI 2 , and 414- * number of pupil teachers in course of training m l fiH years wero respectively d ( 5 « 0 , 0607 , 0180 , 7007 , << " -
Kg£ T^Lel Lea Dje R. [No. 325, Saturday,...
Kg £ T ^ LEL LEA DJE R . [ No . 325 , Saturday , i l ' - ¦¦— ¦ ¦ ' ' * . ' . "_ ^ . ^ m ^ ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ mmmKmmm ^ mm
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), June 14, 1856, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_14061856/page/4/
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