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to Bee purchase put an end to above the rank of captain ); . —^ Colonel Lindsay thought that purchase in some ftirxn or other is inevitable in the army , and that it : prevents jobbery . Already it had crept into the Indian army ; and in the royal army it had secured physical efficiency . Mental efficiency also might be procured , by proper arrangements . —Colonel N " obth likewise opposed the abolition of the purchase system . On the part of the Government , Mr . Frederick Peel and Lord Palmebston argued that , although promotion by purchase is bad in the abstract , and ought not to be admitted if we were forming an array for the first time , yet that it had become so inwoven ,
ftfinister ^ should bring in a bill themselves , and asked whether , if the rate should be abolished , the benefit would go into the pockets of landlords of houses . —Following on the same side , Lord John Russell said he dissented from the proposition that it is a hardship to compel Dissenters to pay Church-rates ; but , had the bill fulfilled its promise of making " other provision" for the rates , he would have supported it . AH the j udge 3 had agreed that there is a legal obligation to repair tlie parish church ; but the obligation cannot be enforced , and has therefore been evaded . To legalise this evasion was the object ; of Sir William Clay ' s bill , and the amendments of which the Government had given notice .
pended for Militia bad been totally useless ; for a greater number of recruits to the regular army might have besn obtainedjfor much leas mouey . Then , as to fortifications , they -were asked for new works and fortifications at home and abroad to the amount of £ 1 , 700 , 000 , being an increase of £ GOO , 0 O 0 on last year . The larger portion of these works had no reference to the war-. The vote was for fortifications on the coast , which would certainly not be required during the present war , and for barracks which would not be completed until after the war had terminated . The fortifications , morover , were constructed [ on principles such as are opposed by the best engineers of modern times . He should be glad if Lord Panmure
woxild appoint a commission to take into consideration the system of earthwork fortifications introduced by Mr . Ferguson , and used with admirable success by the Russians during the siege of Sebastopol . But such a commission should not merely be composed of military men , who ai-e opposed to any innovation in their art , but should include civil engineers . —Lord Pahmure defended the outlay on the militia , which had given 27 , 000 men to the British army , and had done the garrison duty of the country . The fortifications had long been considered necessary to the defence . —Lord Monteagle thought that a large unnecessary expense lad been incurred during the war for purposes not connected with it , and which might
have been postponed ; and he objected to the appropriation to war purposes of £ 34 , 000 , 000 not intended for those purposes , and which had fallen under the _ control of Lord Panmure , owing to the consolidation of the war department . This was a subject for inquiry in the House of Commons . —Lord Stanley of Alderley ( who stated his opinion that the present war hud been carried on with less : suffering to the country and leas inconvenience to commerce than any other war on record ) said that the whole extraordinary expenditure occasioned by the
war—about-. £ 50 , 000 , 000—would . be raised in nearly equal proportions by increased taxation and by loans . The loans , naoreover , differ from all previous loans by the creation of a sinking fund , so that they will all be redeemed in about twenty years . — The bill was then read a second time , and subsequently went through all the other stages , and was passed , Pz-evious to this . result , Lord Panmure , iu answer to the observations of Lord MonteagIoE , made some explanations , but was forced to acknowledge that the appropriation in question could not legally be made as long as the present law exists .
The Consolidated Fund ( £ 1 , 631 , 005 ) Bill was read a third time and passed .
THE ARMY . ILLEGITIMACY . In the House of Commons , Major Sibthorp asked the Under-Secretary for War whether a claim made for the pay and medal of a soldier who fought at Alma , and who was believed to have been present with his regiment at Inkermann , and reported to have died before Sebastopol on the 7 th day of November , 1854 , had been refused , on the ground that the soldier was of illegitimate birth ? - ^ -Mr . Frederick Pjbel said that , if Major Sibthorp would give him the name of the soldier in question , he would make an nquiry into the case .
EDUCATION . Lord John Etjssell moved a series of resolutions on the subject of education . He did so , he eaid , with a feeling of great anxiety , as he was embarking on a sea noted for shoals , and covered with the wrecks of many previous adventurers . But the time had come when we must endeavour to put this country on a more equal footing with other nations . We muat waive that proud ambition of ^ vhich Milton spoke when he said , " England should not forgec her precedence in teaching the nations how to live ; " wo must abandon that position with respect to education , because other nations have gone before us in establishing excellent systems , which had been most
successful in their operation , and -which had elovatod tine character of the nations among whom they wore found . The researches of statistical inq « irie 3 of ono of his predecessors ( Sir John Pakington ) had been most accurate , and his statements were of the greatest value . From the census of 1851 it appeared that there were about 4 , 000 , 000 children and young persons between the- agea of five and fifteen , aud , according to the returns of Mr . Horace Mnnn , about 2 , 000 , 000 wore entered in the school bookB , 1 , 750 , 000 of whom were in attendance ; but , considering tho character of tho toachors in some of these schools , it vns doubtful whether what appeared upon tho surface to be education ooxild bo so considered . With respect to tho education in the schools under tho Committee
« f Council on Education , which were attended by ¦ upwards of 500 , 000 children , tho grants from 1889 hod been tho cause of a groat improvement of education , by tho training schools for fconchora and the general bottoring of elementary education . In tho canton ol Borno , one in © very four is receiving a good education ; in New England tho proportion la one in flvC ; and Scotland , in former tlmop at leubt , was famous' for her educational Arrangements . But in England one groat obetfiolo to the education of tho young ia to be foxind in tho early ago at whioh tho
Sir Geobge G-bey ( who spoke immediately after Sir Stafford Northcote ) said Lord John Manners Lad forgotten the existing state of the law under the decision of the House of Lords . By that decision , churchrates -were practically abolished ; and it had been found that abundant means of repairing churches had been derived from voluntary contributions . The Government , ^ therefore , was forced to acknowledge the abolition in effect of this source of ecclesiastical revenue ; but Ministers were not prepared to enforce the cessation of rates in those parishes where there was still a majority in favour of them . They proposed that , when rates have been refused in a parish
for a given time , and there is an expression of a determined -will on the part of the rate-payers not to pay them , they should cease to be levied . This principle , which they regarded as sl sound one , had been embodied in the MU , sanctioned by the heads of the Church , which was introduced into the House of Lords last session by the Archbishop of Canterbury . Jn those places where the rates continued , he saw no objection to allowing a rate-payer to claim exemption on a declaration that he is a Dissenter ; but , although such a person has no right , after such claim of exemption , to take part in the imposition of the rate , or to have avy other connexion there-with , he could not consent to other disqualiftcationg , such as refusing ; the Dissenter liberty to enter the walls of the church . — Lord PAiiMEHSiOii said the Government conceived
their best course to be in proposing to the House various amendments on the present bill . Lord John Kussell had denominated church-rates an ancient property founded on the law of the land ; hut it ia a mockery to say that the Church has a property which a majority can withhold . The present course was the only one open to Government . —Mr . Miall made a few observations in favour of the bill ; and Lord John Manners ( who , in his first Bpeeoh , tad alluded to " the reckless Attorney . General "—an aliusion which Sir A . Cockburn indignantlyrepelled , observing that he who made it was . ot held high in general estimation for sagacity or wisdom ) explained that he did not mean anything pefsonally offensive to the Attorney-General . The House then divided , when the amendment was negatived by 221 to 178 , and the bill was read a second time .
Thursday , March 6 t 7 i . CHURCH-BATES . In the House of Lobds , the Bishop of Exeter and Lord JPohtman presented petitions against the abolition of church-ratea without an equivalent . The Bishop spoke emphatically against the bill brought into the lower House by Sir William Clay , and sanctioned , with certain alterations , by the Government .
SALARIES Of COTJNTY OOWBT JUDQES . Lord Pobtjman gave notice that on some convenient day after Easter he Would move a resolution relating to the salaries of the County Court judges . —The XiORt > CHAHOBLliOit was understood to say that he had no-w finally settled a bill relating to the same subject , and that ho intended to introduce it on Monday next , and then to postpone the second reading till after Easter . —Lord Brougham strongly deprecated any reduction of the salaries .
EXCHEQUER BILLS FUNDING BILL . On the naotiont for the second reading of this bill , Earl Gbet entered into some criticisms on the impolicy of the course which had rendered it necessary to make this further addition to the national debt . "Withih the financial year whioh had nearly expired , < £ 23 ; OQO , ' 0 ' 00 had boon added to that debt , including a loan , of £ 10 , 000 , 000 , and an issue of about £ 7 , 000 , 000 of Ei 9 h . ec | uejr Bills . They were next called upon to agree to a bill which sanctioned a further loan of £ 5 , 000 , 000 , making the -whole addition to the debt within tho financial year no loss than . £ 28 , 000 , 000 ; and this / as they were told on the highest authority ,
only inpluded tho expenditure up to the 1 st of Apnl , > the termination •'¦ of the current year . Such a policy 3 was a departure from that of tUo Government existing at tho commencement of tho yrar . Wo wore then ¦ tpld that a large portion of the oxponsoa of tho " war would li 0 raised by taxation rather than by loans ; but , of the £ 46 , 000 , 000 which , according to a reoent statement of tho Chftncollox- of tine Ex-• hosier , the -war had already cost ; at least £ 80 , 000 , 000 pirhttps more— -had been raised by loana . Thia lability of raising money had led to oxtravftganoo of expenditufa ; all considerations of economy in tho ¦ wo * ta-vlug bOen disregarded . ' The four millions tix
by long existence , into our military system , that it would he difficult , and in some respects injurious , to remove it ; that some positive and undoubted evils resulting from , the present systesm should be ^ inown to ? jus £ iry an alteration ; that a clange Would involve i * ery large pecuniary loss to th « nation ( not only by the repurchase of commissions , but in the enlarged ; scale of retirements ); and that promotion by merit would give rise to complaints o » f unjust preference . BbrdiPalmerston , however , would undertake that a mixed commission of civilians and military men should ; be appointed to pursue the inquiry begun by a former commission on army promotion , provided Sir ; ; De Iiaey Evans would withdraw his motion . — This $ ra& agreed -to .
TEA DUTIES * . Mr . Macartney ¦" moved . - for a select committee to ijiquira into the circumstances attending the payment of . the very- large amount of duties upon teas on the 20-th , r ; of . April , -1855 , by certain persons trading in London andi Liverpool , thereby evading the increased duties iprbjjose& ^ by the JGhanceDor of the Exchequer in the Budget of ; the satne evening , in order to ascertaijil ; whether such ipersoBls were enabled to do so in consequence > of -previoila information communicated bycipme persbns ^ connected with the revenue depart'm ^ tr ;^ o £ :- 'th (»'; TQe | ia ^| ryi- ^ Thie Ghangellor op the EXObCequeb was surprised at the course pursued , the charge resting oni mete suspicion . If there was any evidence in support of it , he would not oppose the motion ; otherwisei ' -he ^ mustr- —No evidence vras bought forward , and the motion was negatived . oyih
. *^ - . ., ' ... . •' . - : —; :- " ^ otn ) E . . ; . ¦ : , " . - " -fii riERSEtiifE ^ P ^ BRi ^ inin g for a return eiiume-• i «^ g' : ^< 3 ' . ' ' ^^ t ^ rie ^ ' i 7 MchL' have been aniiexe ^ or ? li ^\ re ^ bepni - proposed' to be annexed , to the Baatish -dSmmions by the ^ 6 vernor-Gfeier ^ , r of , India since the close of the Punjab ¦ war , inquired on wKat , ground -of light yrelwedt interferediii itiM State of <> dae , if its annexation had H&keri : ' place ,- ^ Mrl ; ViE ^^ pdSted'the Answer lie ia ^ s £ atch h ^ be ^ Lord ^ alhousie mth re-HBp ^ ot ^ th ^ tiotf ^ f-the ^ 3 iit ^ s ^ ii <» n ;" l ) ut he ' declmieil to enter into oTetafls •« TUlt ! il ?< he eould % y all ; the papers upon the table . — Afte * some remarks by Mr . OtvV ^ y (\ rht > spoke against th ' o ; -annex £ fci *) n ) , and Mr . Kinitaibd , the motion was agreed to * ¦ r
TheDwELLINQS FOB LABOtJ ^ iwa 0 LASSES .. ( IrEIlATSD ) PXMQ was read a second tiine after , some opposition , \ Wtdnt&day , March 5 th , . . . . ) . GffOBQH BAlIES ABOIiUMON BIZ . Ii . to'ith ©^ Htt-oajvi-yo * ^ CoyiisMs Sir Wii-iiAM Clat moved : the second reading of this bill . Since the decision of the House of ' Lorae ^ church-rates might bet aaid ' to exist H 6 Ibnger , 5 \ a a l-ate cannot be ' ' made'except by a majority ' of ! the parishlioners . Tet cotitesta contintie to spring Hjpjatid , to make tlie lftw . perfectly clear and harmoniotiB ; the present bill was introduced . The bill abolished church-rates , saving
wbefir © there are charges upon them , and substituted voluntary- contributions ^ to "be collected by the chuxchwardeu , whose office and power are preserved j andtho bill provided that audatoi-s , to be elected by thftj , vestry , flhouid ^ control th * disbursement of the fundB . Sir William -Bald that his " bill , of lost year auttorisedipew-i-ents , - ' but , o"bjeotiona having been made 'to that provision ; he had given' it upi—Lord JdBNi iMAJTNERa mdv-od to defer the second reading foEiBix ^ monthB . - He fully acknowledged as a grievance thejriglit tto tax' Dieaeuters for "the maintenance of the Ghucch / anddeBired / to aee thtit caus © of complaint jrodxeHsedj but , tho billi though , ( professing to subsfcii tutjeispme iff other ptfoVisiottB" in lieu of church-rates .
^ iniiffaob did' nothing more tlan give al auporfluous ; ewoctiou ito 'cliaritablo donations , thus abolishing ' ' wl ^ oi et winpsnaatipn ttn ancien t and univere al charge ^ o ^^ wwejrtyv'i'whioK has' aeouied > to ' the poor ' tho fe ^ ruowsi d € * ia free exefofoe ¦ of religious worship , Th ^ flwhlplfttoXpensoJbf' uphoWlng'tho fabric of tho O ^ m ^ ll ^ ould thuosbe thrown ou tho BhouWera pf (^ ip ^ tojott , ';> . y « ' t 'ipiBsentei * B , itthil& tifloapiqg from all jWWrai ^ iM ^ to interfere in weM ^ jr ^ k ^ tiaent ^^ neoted with tho services of tho C ^^ g % « r ^ viaiBtvibutidtt of funda oollooted by UfPIS : * S ^ W . 'la » W on the measurotos U ^^^^ i ^ # ^ -T ^^ amendment was bo ^ v& ^ WfSS *^ f ^ VmWoMHQG'gn-Who bill was ftlao'tt ^ b soa / by iMrv ^ aoMMo ^ ri who , » uggeated that
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220 ; T H ^ E LEADE B . [ No . 311 , Saturday ,
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), March 8, 1856, page 220, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2131/page/4/
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