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quite " comfortable" here , asm France , for " mutual accommodation . " Prodigal are the orgies of the Court of Bastards at St . Cloud ; with such a restoration of the " Regency , " . France may well laugh and sing , while Victor \ Etugtt ' S nouse . tHe * comes a deserted . tradition , and Latit&tirie almdst begs his bread at publishers ' doors . .
At the Cape , General Cathcart hascome , seen , and—will conquer when he cstn . Meanwhile he is very vigorous with hi * measuf 8 # —dealing out-Minie rifles , calling in allies , warning off rebels beyond the Kei , abandoning the policy of capturing booty , and hanging spies and traitors . We have yet to see the effect of this terrible . policy .
Less terrible perhaps to the evasive T'Slambi and fickle Kafir , than the rains which poured down upon Ascot course until the end of the third day , Ascot weeps like Epsom over the follies of the day ; the jockey is sick at heart , and the baffled better , like the disappointed party man , loses faith in our institutions .
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THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT . PUBLIC BUSINESS . Mr . Disbaeli , on Monday , replied to Sir James Graham ' s attack on Thursday last . He represented the state of the public business as most satisfactory . He went through the list of measures , following the example of Sir James , and showed that , since Thursday , all the votes in Supply , except nineteen ,, had been agreed to ; and that the main of the bills alleged to be
in so backward a state had since that day been considerably advanced . He was not prepared to abandon any of the bills except the Metropolitan Buildings Bill . The Whiteboy Consolidation Bill he should not press ; but , in the teeth of all the opposition of all the Irish members , he should resolutely insist on the passing of the Crime and Outrage Act . Having gone through the list of bills before the House , he wound up by a defence of the Government against the charge of bringing parliamentary government into disrepute .
" I declare , sir , that when I examine the Government measures which have not yet passed , with the most anxious desire to ask the House to support nothing which I do not suppose to be of the first necessity—with the most anxious desire that the labours of this Parliament should not be prolonged—I do not feel myself justified , _ with the exception I have mentioned , in recommending the withdrawal rf any of those bills . They appear to me necessary measure * of high policy , and in such a satisfactory state of progress that all may be passed consistently with that termination of the session which we all now anticipate . ( Hear , hear . ) Sir , I claim no credit to the Government for this state of the public business . I say that moat
unfeignedly . It is a state of public business , m my opinion , satisfactory ; but it is due , and due only , to the good sense and to tho good temper of the House of Commons . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) And , sir , when I see the highest authority dilating with strong feeling , and expressing hia great apprehension 1 —saying , with all the authority or his name in the senate of his country , that if wo do not take care we shall brine representative governmont itself into disrepute—for it will appear that we cannot transact the public business—I say , sir , that I have drawn from the session which is now closing a very different conclusion and a very opposite moral . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) I would rather trace what has been done this session , and tho
mannor in which it has boon done , and I would rather employ it as an argument in favour of representative government- ^—in favour , at least , of the mode in which roprosentative government is carried on inthis country —• than bring it forward as an argument which should load tho House to believe that tho reputation of representative government is in danger . ( Hear , hear . ) Sir , I will not ilato upon tho fact that wo have been enabled to pass already through tho House of Commons thirty-seven Governmont measures , twenty of which have now passed into law : and when I recal to tho House tho circumstances of tho session—that a chango of Government took placeand party feelings wore oxcitod which , under such
, circumstances , naturally produced great delay of business , and when the fact is romornbored thufc I and my colleagues woro only enabled on tho 15 th of March to assume our seats in this House—I say , I think it tells vory much for tho good sonso and the good temper of the House that wo havo been permitted to carry by their aid to a conclusion so many important measures , and yot have not postponed that important ) appeal , to the peoplo , on which wo aro nil agreod . ( Hear , hoar , and choora . ) Sir , I remember some yoars ago , when I pat on tho other sido of tho House , under tho guidanco and advico of that distinguished man ,
Xord Georgo Bontinck , and when I took part in tho lead of affairs , for whioh I was not qualified , but by tho groat indulgcmco of my friends it foil to my duty to sum up tho transactions of tho longest Hossion that Parliamonl ; over experienced- —lasting , iboliovo , for ten continuous months ¦—which concluded in Soptombor , 1848 . At that time there woro rumours abroad respecting tho unsatisfactory mode in which the public affairs woro conducted ; y ou woro told that tho accumulation of business wan intolerable , and it was proved in a mannor that thrilled mon with alarm , that representative government could no longar deal with tho affairs of th © community . It WRb nay
duty , after a car&fcl ^^ S ^ Ji all the and measures of that re ^ lferkablai sesSfcn , to vindicate the conduct andcharactei m the Hdasrf of Commons . Then , sir , it was my duty alii to endeavour to prove that which I gave iny reasont d ^ jip believing—namely , that it was to the Ireakness of .-W $ ' . "Ministry , and not ; i » the inefficieatef tif iS £ Houses ttai th < 0 lamentable" efcife of affairs tKfeii . exf ij < # ienced # iS owing !; Now , sir , itt the present instSitce , I do not thiril ^ ifc necesskry to ascribe anything either to the Weakness of ithe Ministry or to i % e inefficiency of tlte Hduse of CbinmortsV because I tamtam that the public btfsiness waist never in a more sXtisfactcsry state . * Sir > X claim no eredirt for her Majes ^ s : Mini ^^ s for this sifcta ; but I may say this most sincerely for them , that we have endeavoured by sedulous attention to business to merit the indulgence that we have received from the House , and even from our opponents . "
It will be observed that Mr . Disraeli totally avoided any allusion whatever to the Maynooth debate , upon the dilatory character of which Sir James founded his charge . Government , he said , virtually adopts this motion , yet they either cannot or will not bring it to an issue . Let them take care that they do not bring representative government into disrepute . Mr . Disraeli replied by ignoring the charge !
PASSING- OF THE MILITIA BILL . The order of the day for the third reading of the Militia Bill was read on Monday . Mr . Rich , an understrapper of the late Ministry , moved that it be read that day six months . He made a very long and a very dull speech against the bill . His main argument was , that an invasion was not probable ; that if it were , a militia was an inefficient defence , and that the proper course would be to increase the standing army . He was seconded by Mr . Mackinnott , and supported by Mr . McGbegob , Mr . Heajmdam :, and Mr . Ewaet , Lord Habkst Vane and Sir Henby Vebney speaking for tbe bill . The debate was very tame , and all were anxious for a division , when Mr . Bebnai . Osbobne rose , and amused the bouse for above an hour .
Sir Henry Verney had made a very warlike speech . Not content with voting for tbe third reading , said Mr . Osbobne , tbe honourable gentleman called upon Ministers to put the Martello towers in order- —to produce tbe swivel guns which had been laid up since the last war , and then they might laugh to scorn the French invasion . ( Laughter . ) He defended the Peace Society , and observed that t axes had not been raised to carry on wars , but wars bad been raised to carry on taxes ; and that our most expensive luxury was a successful general . ( Laughter . )
" But at the same time he drew a distinction between armies raised for the purpos e of aggression , and ^ armies for the p urpose of defence ; a nd ho would submit to those gentlemen—if there were any such—who doubted the lawfulness of defensive war , that in the Utopia of Sir Thomas More , though he depicted a society in all the enjoyment of perennial happiness , detesting war , despising glory , and prohibiting alike lawyers and soldiers ( laughter )—neither allowing Martello towers nor briefs in Chancery—yet even he'did not debar the natives of his happy island from the use of arms , nor from defending themselves when thoy were attacked . Now , he could not imagine that any body , either in that house or out of it , would bo more Utopian
than the Utopians themselves , ( threat laughter . ) J ± e must say , for himself , that ho could not look upon tho present state of the continent of Europe with satisfaction , filled , as it was , with gigantic armies and with reactionary rulers at tho head of those armies . It might bo very well , though ho could hardly follow tho honourable baronet tho momber for Bedford through hifl medley of Martollo towers , rifles , and Louis Napoleon ( laughter)—ifc might be very well for tho honourable baronot to say that ho had confidence in Louis Napoleon - Ho ( Mr . Osbornc ) did not
wish to say anything that would tronch upon tho feelings of tho most fastidious Frenchman , but ho could not sav that ho shared in tho hon . baronet ' s confidence . Ilo thought it was natural that a man who was raised to power by tho military order should act in accordance with military prejudices . And after all , what did tho hon . gentleman say ? I havo confidence in Louis Napoleon , but for all that double your army—increase your ri ? lo corps—man your Martollo towers—get ready your swivel guns—but still I have groat confidonco in Louis Napoloon . ( Laughter . )"
Ho criticised tho military estimates , and nsked for more information . Then riding off to tho address of Mr . Disrnoli to the " confiding farmers of Buckinghamshire , who were his constituents , " ho said : — " The right honourablo gentleman proposed to raiso tho militia by giving « , bounty , which it was clear would operate most unequally in different parts of tho country , In the rural districts ifc would deprive tho furrnoir of a groat deal of labour , probably when ho most wanted it , while in tho manufacturing districts , where tho bounty would bo
of no avail , tho Government must rosorfc to tho ballot , a proceeding contrary to tho ' genius of tho epoch , ' whioh no stutosmrn ought to disregard . ( Choors and luughtor . ) Ho defied hor Majesty's Ministers thomsolvoa , though ho admitted that thoy woro active recruits , to aoquiro a lcnowlodgo of thoir profession in twenty-ono days . Ho admitted that ; tho noble lord at tho head of tho Govornmont had shown much skill in performing a rathor diftioult ovo-1 lu |/ ion—namely ) changing hi « front in tho prosonco of hie adversary . ( Hoar , hoar , and laughter . ) lie admitted also that tho right honourablo gentleman tho Chancellor of tho Exchequer was very ekilftu in light infantry movements
and that lie hfed . JthiMil « $£££ he knew how to advance a retreatfin thebiis ^ efi Tie right honourable eentW the SecrejAfy for ; Ifee Home Department was rather si ^ in his move m ! fent $ i % nt no doubt he would soon , invnro . and as for the hctae-urable and learned gentle man the S r citor ^ Generidy hie was an old soldier ( great laughter ) wl would * -serve under any officer , and give fire anywhere . " He d ! enied . tBat a gbod soldier could be made i twentyioneSays— - " He was astoniflltecl that ffi 6 Chancellor of the HyoT
,. quer shomd have sought to imitate , not Mr Pitt h , f PompWtne Grefifc , who vainly boasted that he could rS legions fey stamping with ; his foot . ' The right hon . gentleman seemed td . imagine that he coold act as Pomne " thought he could , but he ( Mr . Osborne ) cautioned him that he was more likely to fall to the level of the fa mous hero in the farce , and that when he had got his 50 000 men he would have to say , ' Begone , brave army don't kick up a row ! '" ( Great laughter . )
He wound up by an unmeasured tirade against militia in general ; and by declaring thai our best defences were our " wooden walls" and volunteer corps . A few words from the Soi / Icitqb-Genebai and ifr . Peto brought this dry discussion to an end . The House divided , arid there were- ^ For the amendment , 148 ; against it , 220 . Majority , 72 . The bill was therefore read a third time .
On the motion of Mr . Tbcobnely , a proviso was added to clause 18 , exempting any member of the senate of the University of London > any examiner ^ professor , tutor , or lecturer of the said university , or of any college , school , or institution , connected with the said university , under the provisions of any charter thereof , any student of any such college , school , or institution , duly matriculated in the said university , and actually receiving education in any of the said colleges , schools , or institutions , and any resident member of the University of Durham , from all liability to serve or provide a substitute for the miKtiai
An important motion was then made by Mr . Wliiiam Wixijams , to omit the whole of clause 18 , and thus to abolish the power of conscription . A division at once ensued : ¦—Eor the omission of the clause , 142 ; against , 187 . Majority for the clause , 45 . A proviso , moved by Sir DeI ^ ACy Evans , at the end of clause 35 , to the effect thafc-it shall not be lawful to order the ballot , except in time of actual war , or imminent danger of war , was rejected by 178 to 82 , and the bill passed . SUSPICIOUS INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION .
The House of Lords was the scene of a very singular proceeding on the part of the Derby Government , on Tuesday night , —a proceeding which demands the closest attention from the country . Lord MaI / Mesbuby moved the second reading of a bill , modestly entitled , Surrender of Criminals ( Convention with France ) Bill . It is noticeable , that , in making this motion , Lord Malmesbuay did not , as is usual , state , in detail , the provisions of the bill , but confined himself to an account of the unsatisfactory relations at present subsisting between England and France , as regards tbe extradition of criminals . But he did allude to one part of the bill , which excited great suspicion . Premising that a convention had been made in IBM , ho continued— ' :
, _ . - „_ . „„„ " This new convention extended the number of crimes for which tho mutual eurrender of criminals was to po mado , and contained . some provisions by whicn ¦«'" J' 7 was given that no surrender should bo demanded ot pouu cal oirendors against tho Trench Government , it coo taincd an article by which it was provided that no brown of a municipal or political law should bo doeniod a Bumciwi cause for demanding the surrender of tho P ^ 7 . ™ JLJJJ been guilty of it . Ho must say this infavour of the ^ prescn Government of France , that it had mot him wagged franknras and oponnesson this subject , andhewasauthonze ^ by the French Ambassador to declare that to any pj « which tho wisdom of Parliament pr the ingenuity oi f legal profession could draw up to prevent the sj ™ . a mere political offenders , his Government would gn ° illing consont"
w . . , .,. „ WJLIIIIJIU UUUQUAllJi I Al . n The Karl of ABEnBEBN warned the Minister anou House of tho great difficulty of tl . e . subject , winio ndinittod the desirability of providing for tno o * tion of onbndors . At present , foreign prisoners w protected by the lhw of this country . . os . "BythoproBcnt WU nothing waai roauirod b » e ¦ JU tablishmcnt of the identity of iho mdiyiduftl oUum » cntortained some dqubfc whether tho < 1 ? rtlc " ° V" fucitiv « ing identity was groat ; but was it fitting " j ^ ion than should havo no ofcnor protection against ' ^ PP' ™ ^^ , tho production or nonproduction df the [ . man < r ll ] i f Ifo which , itt point of fact , was no protection ' ^ ' obft tjon doubted whothor Parlinmont would giyo its m it 0 (\ and sanction to that provision of the l »» T' ^ i' ^ ttlio
nothing but tho French lottor of accusation w « - approhoxiHion oC tho ullogod criminal . flifforcH * Tho bill bad reference to some twenty stt ( i ( i offences , and applied to all such offences , coi Hinco 1843 . Ho could not ace the propriety oi tho law retrospective ,
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L [ motions 550 THE | ADER . Satorday ,
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Leader (1850-1860), June 12, 1852, page 550, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1939/page/2/
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