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this motion , do let the House consider for a little what they are about to do . Those who support the motion say- — ' We do not wish to do anything to offend the Roman Catholics ; we do not desire to press this inquiry in a manner which may be offensive to the superioress of any nunnery ; in short , we want merely to have an inquiry , in order that the whole truth may be ascertained . ' Bat while that is the spirit which animates the supporters of the motion in this House , the feeling out of doors is one of a very different kind —it is a feeling which would not be satisfied until you had
a most full and complete inquiry into the management of all the convents in the land , and which , probably after that inquiry , would not be satisfied until there was a total abolition of all such institutions . Now , do not let the House think they can satisfy a feeling such as that by an inquiry which is not really fall and complete . Do not let the House , if we do not wish to create a fee / ing in the Eoman Catholics that they have not been well used in this particular , give Tray to the agitation out of doors , which I believe is all a mistake . Let us have courage to meet the popular eatery on this subject . "
On the other hand , Mr . W-axpole put the case for the motion . If these communities , aa he believed , were not necessary to the full and . free exercise of the Roman Catholic religion , and were hostile in spirit and practice to the Protestant institutions of the country , there would be legitimate grounds of inquiry . Did the inmates require protection , either as to their personal liberty or the disposition of their property ? As regarded the first , it appeared that the laws of every country in Europe , except England , made provision for it , and he thought there could hardly he a doubt that some alteration of the law was required in reference to the transmission or disposition . of property . On a division the motion was carried . There were for it , 186 ; against it , 119 ; majority , 67 .
inquiry which was left in an unsatisfactory state by the select committee of 1851 . Patmbwt of Wages . —Sir Huircnr Halford , after some opposition , obtained leave to bring in a bill to restrain stoppages from the payment of wages in the hosiery manufacture . It was arranged with Ministers 4 hat this bill should , with the Truck A . ct Amendment bill , be referred to a select committee after they have been read a second time . Army Estimates . —A Parliamentary paper , containing the supplemental estimate , has iust been issued . The additional number of troops required for foreign service is 15 , 000 , including all ranks , and the additional charge amounts to 570 , 000 c . Of this sum the land forces are estimated to require 500 , 000 ? ., and the staff 70 , 000 / . The whole charges for the services of 1854 and 1855 will therefore be 6 , 857 , 486 * . being an increase upon the charge of 1853 and 1854 of 832 , 4701 The increase for the same period in the numbers of the men is 25 , 694 , of which number 10 , 694 have been already voted .
Sdjope . —Before going into Committee of Supply , on Monday , Sir Hkkey WilXotjghby renewed the talk about Smope , and imputed that disaster to th « non-fulfilment of the instructions sent by Lord Clarendon to Admiral Dnndas on the 8 th of October last . He also accused Lord Stratford of keeping the Turkish fleet out of the Black Sea . In reply , Sir James Graham explained that Lord Stratford had exercised his own discretion , with respect to the instructions of the 8 th of October , and had not thought it expedient then to warn the Bussians that the British fleet had been ordered to protect Turkish territory . As to Sinope , that had oc' . irred solely in consequence of the neglect of the Turkish J asha . He had been warned of his danger , and ordered to •¦ eturn to Constantinople 3 nevertheless lie had remained at anchor in that open bay . After that catastrophe tbe fleets had been ordered to clear the Black Sea of Russian shins .
The steamers had cruised in all jaarts , and only in one harbour did they see any of the Russian ships . There were three off the entrance of the sea of Azoff . Some of the naval members joined in the debate , agreeing that Admiral Dnndas had done rightly in returning with his sailing ships to the Bosphorus . Inns of Court . —On the motion of Mr . Napier , supported by the Attorney and the Solicitor General , it was unanimously agreed that an humble address be presented to her Majesty , praying her Majesty to grauta , commission to inquire into the ) arrangements in the inns of court for promoting the study of law and jurisprudence , the revenues properly applicable ; and the means most likely to secure a systematic and sound education for students of law , and provide satisfactory test of fitness for admission to the bar .
Irish Tenant Right . —The various bills on this subject , both those of Lord Donoughmore and the bills under the care of the Duke of Newcastle , have now been referred to a select committee . In a discussion that , on Tuesday night , preceded the second reading , in which Lord Donoughbiokk , Lord Monteagle , the Duke of Newcastle , Lord Campbell , Lord Ci ^ ancarty . Lord Dufferin , and Lord Desart took part , the bills were generally well received . Lord Monteagle , indeed , objected to all legislation for facilitating arrangements with regard to compensation between landlords and tenants . He contended that contracts should be free and open . Legislation had hitherto only frustrated every attempt to better the condition of the tenantry .
Ireland , he added , had now merged into a . progressive state , and these measures would only throw it back . Yet he agreed to the second reading . This naturally laid him open to the retort from the Duke of Newcastle , that it was wonderful how , with such strong objections , he consented to send the bills to a select committee . Interference in contracts is nothing new . There are above 200 statutes regulating the relation between landlord and tenant . Tlie Duke contended that unless these measures enabled tenants to recover retrospective compensation they -would be
unsatisfactory . The bills were referred to a select committee . Newspaper Stamps . —On the motion of Mr . Ciuuiturd returns of the number of stamps issued to the newspapers of the United Kingdom last year were ordered . Tho motion was resisted by Mr . Wilson nnd Mr . Gladstone , on tho jn-ound that it was prying into private transactions . Mr . Disraeli insisted that newspapers are different from other property . They influence public opinion , and it ought to be known what is the extent of tho opinion they represent . Seeing the House disposed to adopt the motion , Mr . Gladstone gave way , and the returns were ordered .
Emigration Ships . —After some objections on tlie pnrt of tho Under Secretary for tho Colonies , Mr . F . Piuci , , who contended that the comfort und safety of emigrants were cared for , the following resolution , moved by Mr . John O'Connkll , was agreed to : ' -That a select committee to inquire into tho recent cases of extensivo loss of lifts aboard emigrant ships , whether by sickness , wreck , or other cnuses ; and , generally , into the sufficiency , or otherwise , of tlie existing regulations for tho health and protection of emigrants from the United Kingdom . " His object was to complete tho
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AXLEGED IRISH CORBUPTION . The committee investigating the charges of corruption preferred . against the Irish Members has sat two days this week . Mr . Howley , the stipendiary magistrate , said to have paid 500 / . for his place , denied emphatically that he had ever been concerned in such a base transaction as that imputed to him . He was appointed by Lord Morpeth in 1841 . Mr . Dillon Browne , Mr . Somers , Sir William Brabazon , and Mr . O'Connell—especially the last—obtained the post for him . Forty-eight of his brother magistrates had also memorialised the Lord-Lieutenant in his favour . But he made the following statement , which may account for the origin of the story : —
"At the time of his appointment to bis ' office in 1841 , he sold off his stock and let Ids place to a man named Knox . He realised 1000 Z . by his sale , and pat an advertisement into the local papers that that sum wonld be lent on application to Mr . E . D . Kane , a solicitor in Dublin . Mr . Kane Was witness's solicitor , and was authorised to invest the money on good security . Mr . Somers and Mr . Castis , both SUgo gentlemen , applied to Mr . Kane , and he having advised witness of the applications , and that the security they offered was good , he lent them , with witness's consent , 400 l each . Mr . Castis was totally unconnected with Sligo borough , and he and Mr . Somers were quite unconnected
with each other . Mr . Somers cave a mortgage on his estate for the money , which was to bear interest at five per cent . However , he was in embarrassed circumstances , and witness never received any interest . He made application to Mir . Somers for it , but not very often , twice or three times in seven years ; but his letters remained unanswered , and , knowing Mr . Somers ' s position , he did not personally press him . His estates were now in the Encumbered Estates Court , and . from his knowledge of the other debts dne upon it , and the order in which they stood , he was certain to be ultimately paid . Before advertising his money for loan he was not aware that Mr . Somers wanted any loan . "
Dr . Grray was examined . He said his Tuam speech had not been properly reported . He said a young man , Mr . Fair , waited on him and told him that he was in negotiation with Mr . O'Hara , a solicitor , for the purchase of a paid guardianship for 3000 / . ; and that Mr . Somers , M . P ., was to procure the situation . Re-examined , the next day , Dr . Gray could scarcely be got to give definite answers ; but } closely questioned by Mr . Keogh , he admitted that he had no impression , when he made the sweeping
statements at Tuam , that they referred to any member npw sitting in Parliament . That the existence of such cases of corruption was believed in , he said , was shown by the common talk . Mr . Keogb , Mr . Lucas , and Mr . G . H . Moore could tell them all about it . He persisted in insinuating sweeping charges of corruption on the faith of private and general conversation ; and the committee peremptorily ordered him , on Monday next , to divulge the names of those persons likely to be able to support his general statements . SLIOO ELECTION . A select committee , appointed to report on a petition from Mr . Somers , the rejected of Sligo , Bat on Wednesday . The inquiry before the committee at present was confined to a petition from Mr . J . P . Somers , alleging that attempts were made on the part of Mr . Sadleir to bribe the sureties to his petition against the return of Mr . J . Sadleir , at the last election , to withdraw their recognisances , ao as to prevent that petition coming before a committee . It was clearly shown by the evidence of the parties to the transaction , that 50 / . or 1001 had been offered by persons , supposed to be the agents of Mr . Sadleir , to the sureties for the petition of Mr . Somers , in order to induce them to withdraw their recognisances -, but it was denied by the agent of Mr . Sadleir , that either Mr . Sadleir or himself were cognisant of the offer .
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MR . BRIGHT Mil ) THE REFORM BILL . Mb . Bright has hoisted tho standard of opposition to the new Reform Bill—differing in this from the great majority of the Liberal party . The occasion for this pronunciamento was a meeting of the election committee of Gibson and Bright , at Manchester , on Monday . It was a meeting preliminary—a convent ion of the general committee , 1800 strong-, will
^ Ifons : !! 7- Herei 8 —^ ary of Mr . Bright ' . " He complained that , whereas a 10 Z . householder need only have been m possession for a year , the term was threiVZSi of h £% n ?/ * ¦!'• h 0 U 8 eb ? lder I *«* » ™* a ft ITS of his BOL deposit in a savings-bank to appwntice has ehiW for instance , was to lose his right to vote f that it would wat with employers whether their men , receiving 2 fc a-week should have votes , because it would be fop them to choose whether they would make advances for current necessities , and pay the balance quarterly ; and that the dififerent fr * achises were too complex , and no one would know to whom he ought to object . He observed that some of the disfranchised boroughs are perfectly pure , and some perfectly free ; and you might rive members to larce bodies under such
rirenmstances that a very few sitting at a private dinner-table Bhall decide who are to be members . The bill , he insisted , shows an innate hostility to popular representation , and a distrust of the people . Seats are to be given to , the inns of court , he said , not because lawyers are wanted , but to prevent more seats being bestowed on the large towns . The announcement 'that there were not to be more members , for the metropolitan boroughs was cheered by the Opposition . Though counties with a few more than 100 , 000 people were to naVe an additional member , Lancashire was not to hare an increase proportioned to its vast numbers . A man accepting office ought to go before his constituents ; a Minister ought to have their confidence as well as the confidence of thd" Crown . The
object of the minority-representation claU $ e £ lie said , was to give the Whigs some of the * 6 new count y seats ; butJVli g ^ county members were of a class that only jmt a cuig on a Liberal Government , as much so as if tn « y ¦ we& Tories . Why , again , were eight or nine great towns to send a member to Parliament to vote in opposition to their opinions ! " ' It was most ungrateful to those eight or . iine towns ; which had been mainly instrumental in doing everything on which Lord J , Russell now defended the passWpf-the Reform BUI of 1832 . Minorities were already so well represented , that a Government could get but . a . narrow majority . But this clause was the pivot of the bill , and without ilj the bill would insure a Tory majority . Th « clause , howeier , "was objected 10 tne
oy uperai memoers . xne trutb was ; that tad aUtribution of members was so arranged in tta bill as to , gfor « power to the territorial interest The bil ( would r not give a > representation in accordance with the opinions of Afce . great - bulk of the people ; and he had no wish to see the measdre pass into a law . - . - ' ~ \ ' , ¦ : ' " ' The Times , commenting on this bitterly antafjonistic speech , appropriately terms it the * expiresslonj of the purely Manchester view of t ^ toim . iMEe .. Bright ; is thus allied to the underlings in office , the quasi-Iaberals—the Van « s and Perings-r-and as- ' sumes the command of guerilla to reipfofce the regular Opposition . ' " , . ' , An address issued , by the National . Reform Assor , ciation on Thursday contains the following pas-. sages : — . ¦ " ' . "¦ ; V' ' . ' .. ; .
" The Government , as you are aware , have proposed a > new Reform Bill . We have thought it our , duty to examine ¦ the measure . We have done so with , the greatest care , j md ., now desire to lay before you tlie conclusions to which we are ' forced . We find , tben , that tlie proposed measure continitea , the right of voting to every man who now possesses it ; feud j that it gives the right of voting to at least an additional - million of men . To recommend such a meaiure Beetns btit a wanton waste of words . To caviLat such a measure seems an act of madness . Stripped to nakedness , its sterling worth , is clear ; bat entangled in the trammel * of minor , detail , much of its goodness is hidden from the yi ^ w . We entreat
you , then , to explain to allaronnd you , tho ^ rand features of the measure ; to caution your friends and , neighbours against being entrapped by the opponents of all reform into dissatisfaction with the mere technical matters ; and to reply , to every insinuation which' is put forth , ' tbe measure gives the franchise to an additional million of our fellow-countrymen ;* If the measure did no more , it is a Bplendi . 4 addition to the present electoral system . " But Ministers have yielded to the storm ; and the Reform BUI is postponed at least until after Easter , perhaps for the session .
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OATH SCRUPLES . Mr . Holy o are has addressed the following petition to the House of Commons . Unable to take an oath himself , Mr . Holyoake , since he entered business , has been more than once plundered with impunity . " The petition of Oeorge Jacob Holyoake respectfully snoweth : — " That your Petitioner is a bookseller and publisher , at 147 , Fleet-street , in the City of London , who has recently Buffered from theft on his premises , of the stereotype plates of a work in course of publication . The plates , which had been broken up and sold , were traced , and the thief brooght to the premises of your Petitioner , who wub , however , compelled to suffer tho thief to depart , because on former occasions your Petitioner has experienced that her Majesty ' s judges and justices treat bis evidence aa inadmissible , on account of Ins deficiency in religious creed . Your Petitioner does not . as the Quakers and others , refuse to give oath , and Courtdes and insult
thereby , in the judgment of the , pise it ; tlie decisive objection to his oath comes from the magistrates , who discover tnat tlio words of the oath aro to him unmean - ing . Your Potitioner is bold to Bay , that oaths , promises , and declarations , are as snored with him as with other men ; nnd that all his neighbours and acquaintance know this . In his trade ho is tiuated as freely as the mOBfc orthodox Christian ; and it is in his power to obtain from many unimpeachable quartern solemn attestations of his honour and fidelity . In short , your Petitioner rinds that his word is believed everywhere except in a court of justico , in which ho it not permitted either to make am affirmation or to swear , and is liable to insult and contumely from the magistrate on
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March 4 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER . l 97
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Leader (1850-1860), March 4, 1854, page 197, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2028/page/5/
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