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counties at twenty-five inches , the towns were ten feet . Where the surveys of towns had been begun , he supposed that , Kke the counties , they woeld be finished <>"* " « scale commenced ; on what scale the towns wouM be af terwards surveyed mast depend on the course to be taken by the House of Commons . . TITE KOTAL ACADEMY . Mr . Condtgham inquired whether it was the intention of the Government to remove the Royal Academy from that position which it now occupies m the National Gallery —Mr . Filsos- replied that the whole matter WH 3 at present undecided , as the report of the commissioners appointed to inquire into the subject had not yet been presented to the Government .
THE ISTHMUS OF SUEZ . In reply to an inquiry by Mr . Henry Bekkeley , L ord Palme . rston said her Majesty ' s Government could not undertake to use its influence with the Sultan in support of an application by the Viceroy of Egypt for the sanction of tlic Sublime Porte to the construction of a ship canal across the isthmus of Suez , because for the last fifteen years thej- had used all their influence to prevent that scheme , which , in point of commercial chaablrank the bubble
racter , might proby among many schemes . He believed that the scheme was physically impracticable , except at an expense far beyond what any returns would repay . This was not , however , the ground upon which the Government had opposed the suggestion , but because it was founded upon hostility to the interests of this country , and was in opposition to the standing policy of England in regard to the connexion of Egypt with Turkey , the separation of which countries it would render more facile .
PESTHUCTION OF BRITISH PROPERTY . Mr . Adams asked whether it was the intention of the Government to introduce any measure enabling them to grant compensation to British merchants whose property at Uleaborg , in the Gulf of Bothnia , was destroyed on the 2 nd of June , 1854 , during the late war , by the boats of a squadron under Admiral Plumridge . —Lord Palmerston replied , that the principles applyiug to the case of Grevtown were applicable to the case in question , and that no claim could be set up for the destruction of the property .
THE BENGAL MILITARY FUND . Lord Goderich withdrew his motion for a select committee to inquire into the present state of the Bengal Military Fund , and its relations with the East India Company . The gentlemen in this country who represented the persons interested in the inquiry had requested him to take the present course , as they did not wish to embarrass the Government in the present Btate of affairs in India . However , he hoped the Government would give some explanation . —Mr . Vernon Smith observed that this was a question which had arisen between the officers who were entitled to the military fund of Bengal and the East India Company , in which the East India direction took one view / and those who were interested
in the fund another . The question stood at present in this position : —Last Jane , the Court of Directors , with his sanction , seat out a despatch stating that , although they did not waive their claim of right to any further contributions to this fund , still , if in the course of two years from January , 1856 , the revenue was not able to meet the charges upon it , it would be a question whether further contributions should be called for . That would of course be a matter of generosity on the part of those ¦ who were called on to contribute . He need not say that the conduct of the gentlemen whom the noble Lord represented was highly worthy of praise , in not pressing the subject on the attention of the Indian Government at this time . —Mr . Mangles spoke to the like e ffect , and the subject-then dropped .
THE LORD LIEUTENANCY OF IRELAND . Mr . Roehuck moved ' that the office of Lord Lieutenant of Irol und oug ht to bo abolished . ' lie argued that Ireland should bo made , in every respect , an integral part of the United Kingdom—tho same as n county of England ; and by this measure ho proposed to effect that object , and to take away tho last badge of her subjection . Ho did not want Irishman to call themselves Irishmen . Ireland dorivod no benefit from tho Vicoroyalty ; and ho
therefore proposed to substitute for the Lord Lieutenant a Secretary of State . Tho court nt Dublin is a focua of intri gue , and makes Ireland depend on her Government rather than hor own exertions . Should , as ho anticipated , the previous question bo moved , it could only bo because it waa thought that tho present is not n favourablo time for tho abolition ; but what time could possibly bo moro favourable ? Ireland ia tranquil , and , with this one . oxcoption , well governed ; and onl y a fow tradesmen and milliners arc interns ted in tho retention
of the office . Since tho Reform Bill , only two nets offensive to Irolnnd had boon passed—tho Coercion Act and tho Ecclesiastical Titles Bill . Both thoBe he ( Mr . Roobuck ) had opposed ; and tho lattor ia u dead letter , tho Government being nfmid to put it in operation . In I 860 , Lord John Russell proposed to abolish tho office of Lord Lieutenant ; and among those who votod for hlu motion wore Mr . Baines , Mr . Bouvorio , Mr . Cowpor , Sir George Groy , Mr . Haytor , Mr . Keating , Mr . Labouohoro , Siv C . G . Lowls , Mr . ' W ilson , and Sir Charloa Wood ; and In tho Government at tho time were Sir Francis Boring , L ord Joh n RubsoII , Lord Clarendon , and Lord . Palmoraton . —Mv . Uauwuld seconded tho motion .
Mr . M'CrrxAGH opposed the motion , believing' that the present is not the time for the proposed change ; that Mr . Roebuck ' s was not the proper mode of dealing with such a difficulty ; and that the question ought to be handled by Government , and not b y a private member . Mr . Roebuck had not proposed any substitute for the office which he would destroy . In 1850 , when Lord John Russell presented his motion on the subject , the House had a definite scheme before it for the future
government of Ireland , and he regretted that the circumstances of the case compelled him to vote against the second reading of the noble Lord ' s measure . But there are great difficulties in the way of the change . There are one hundred and twenty statutes relating exclusively to Ireland ; and it would be impossible to have identity of government without identity of legislation . The duties of the Governments in the two countries are totally at variance ; and , believing the day to be far distant when the laws could be assimilated , he thought
that the separate departments of administration for the two countries must still continue . He should therefore meve the previous question . —Mr . Geogait and Mr . Whites-IDE also opposed the motion ; the latter , however , admitting that there are great abases in the government of Ireland , that the present system is vicious , and that the prosperity of the country is not inseparable from the Lord Lieutenancy . At the same time , he dkl not think Mr . Roebuck ' s morion met the case . —Sir WiLLrAM Somer-villk supported the motion , and expressed his belief that the country would gain behaving a Minister for Ireland here in connexion with t . he other Ministers of the Crown . —Mr . Yastce and Mr .
Bagwell thought that the office should be retained . The Irish people had made no demand for its abolition ; and it was the opinion of the late S-ir Robert Peel that the non-existence ot the Lord Lieutenant would increase absenteeism . —Mr . Maguire , while refusing to vote for the motion , on account of n » substitute being offered for the Viceroyalty , denounced the office as a mockery , the Lord Lieutenant being obli ged to apply to the Cabinet at London on all questions , and therefore having no will of his own . Whoever said that the prosperity of the Irish peop le depended on the Lord Lieutenant uttered downright blasphemy . { Loiid laug Jiter . y The prosperity of Ireland is due to God , and not to any individual . The duties of Lord Lieutenant are p e rformed b y Lord Carlisle in a petty manner , though no person could more efficiently marshal the national to the
dances , from the dash of Sir Roger de Coverley intricate mysteries of the double shuffle . { Laug hter ?) A wretched bastard aristocracy and a sham gentilityhad been generated by the miserable abortion of a court in Dublin ; and there was less independence there than in any other city in the country . It caused a vile , ap ing ostentation outside , and a pinching meanness indoors . — -Mr . Horsman believed it was the op inion of all classes in Ireland that the office ought to he abolished ; but he could not agree to the present motion because no substitute was proposed . Ireland is like an invalid just beg inning to recover , and therefore requiring to be watched . —After a few remarks by Mr . P . O'Briekt , who considered tho retention of the Viceroyalty a matter of contract , and from Mr . Blake in defence of Lord Carlisle ,
Lord Palmerston said there was no denying the importance of the question ; but this was an abstract resolution which , if adopted , oug ht to be followed up by some practical measure to carry it into effect . Mr . Roebuck , however , had left that task to others , without suggesting any arrangement by which the government of Ireland might be carried on . That waa a very inconvenient method of proceeding on a grave question of this kind . The question was one surrounded with great difficulties , and he was not prepared at the present moment to propose any arrangement which would be satisfactory . His Lordship concluded with a high eulogy on Lord Carlisle . —Mr . Disraeli also spoke against the resolution , for which he thought no case had been mode out ,
and he was followed on tho same side by Mr . Comoixy . Mr . RpEBUCK , in reply , said it was for the House to declare its opinion . If that opinion were adverse to the retention of tho oflico , it was for % he Government to provido tlio substitute , or acknowledge their incapability . When it took three weeks to get to Scotland , where the lnwa differed from our own , it waa not held to bo necessary that a Lord Lieutenant should , be appointed ; and how could it beanid that Ireland , now within & distance of cloven hours , required such an officer ? Tho House then divided , showing—For Mr . Roebuck ' s motion 115 Against it 266 Majority against tho motion .,. 151
KLECl'ION PETITIONS WITHDHAWN . Tho Speaker informed tho House that ho had received letters from tho election agents of tho potitionaca who had complained of undue returns for Newport , Taunton , and Portsmouth , stating that the petitions would not bo proceeded with . ItESimVEO 8 TX 8 AWCRU 8 XBTD 8 THAMKR 8 IN COMMISSION . Sir CnAuLTOs N . apibr moved for » return of tne n * m « ja and r a te s of the res e r ve d st e a m ers at e a ch p or t , tholr hor s o p ow er , whether high or low pressure , screw or paddle , number of officora , man and boys , engineer * ami atokora , employed to take oaro of them , and Uow many wore ready for commission on tho 1 st day of June , 1 & 57 .
And a similar return of the steamers in commission at various ports , with their crews , how many coastguard men are borne on their books , the number of coast volunteers enrolled , and how many have been called oat and drilled . He contended that we have not a sufficient naval force at home to meet an enemy in case of war . —Mr . Beottnok . seconded the motion . —Sir Charles Wood said th « Government did . mat think that In the present state of our political relations a larger force should be kept up than that which was proposed b y th e Admiralty , and sanctioned by the House in committee of supply . He objected to the production of the documents moved for . —A short discussion ensued , in the course of which Captain Ditscombe observed that , thoug h Sir Charles Napier complained of the men and shi ps of the navy , he had not given them much opportanity of showing what they could do in the Baltic . —Sir
Charles Napier , in his reply , referred to those observations- as being * dishonourable and ungentlemanly . 'Captain J > cjncomb-b rose te order , and called the attention of the Speaker to those tin-parliamentary expressions . — The Speaker : " The use of those words by the hon . and gallant Admiral certainly escaped my notice ; but I cannot doubt that , as his attention has been directed to them , he will withdraw them . The hon . and gallant Admiral must know they are quite unparliamentary . "Sir Charles Napier : " The House must remember tba * I received very severe provocation . ( ' O h ! ' and' Order ry The hon . and gallant member reflected on my conduct when commanding in the Baltic , and said I had given the fleet no opportunity of fighting , whereas he must have known perfectly well that it waa impossible . ( ' Order , order / ' ) If the House is of opinion that I ought to withdraw those expressions , I will do so . " ( Hear , hear . )
The Speaker then pot the motion , when tne voice of Sir Charles Napier was heard among the ' Noes , ha opposition to his own motion . —The motion was accordingly iflgatived . —Sir Charles If Apier said , there had been a mistake . He thought the Speaker had been putting a motion for adjournment . ( Cr ies of ' Order / ' and laug hter .. ) The House then adjourned on the motion of Mr . Haskey , at twenty-five minutes to one .
Wednesd ay , y 8 th . THAMES COXSERVA 2 JCY BILL . This measure , which , though a private bill , possesses some public interest , was read a third time , and passed , at the morning sitting of the House of Commons . Some previous discussion , however , took p lace , the third reading being opposed by Sir William Godrington , who moved that it be deferred for six months . He observed that powers weie given by this bill to the conservators of the river , to embank , project works , and obtain rent for these works , two-thirds whereof should be payable to the conservators , for the improvement of the navigation ostensibly , and one-third to the Government . He objected to the constitution of the
conservancy board , and to the proposition to confer such powers on them . The Board of Trade had condemned the mode of appointing tho conservancy board , all the po w er being p laced in the hands of the Corporation of London . A measure so important should be introduced as a public , and not as a private , \> ill . Perhaps the Speaker would g ive his op inion on that point . —The Speaker rep lied that the bill had "been properly introduced as a private bill . —Alderman Cubitt observed that the City had no pecuniary interest in tho matter , and merely acted for the purpose of performing a great public duty . —Sir De Lacy Evans referred to the constitution of the
Board of Conservators , which consisted of three members from tho Admiralty , two from the Trinity House , and seven £ rom the London Corporation ; and he submitted that tho majority of the board were not men necessarily qualified to deal with the subjects submitted to them . — Mr . Henley spoke in favour of tho board , and supported the bill . —Mx . Ayiwon supported tho amendment , aud so also did Sir James Graham , who thought that the interests of tho public aud of the owners of property on , each side of the river had been overlooked . —Sir James Duke supported the measure ; and the . third reading was carried by 172 to 78 .
the nansiAN and wars . Tho Chancellor ov this Exchequer laid on tho table estimates of the Persian and Chinese wars , of half a m illion each , which ho proposed to refer to a Committee of Supply-, and ho gave notice that , in tho course of the present month , he Bhould move a resolution to continue fop two years tho duty on tea and sugar aa fixed laat year . —Mr . Rohduoic said a wax bad been declared and proaecutcd , and a peace had been made 5 and Che fixat intimation givou to the House on tho subjoct waa ita being called on to pay tho bill . ( Hear . ) Tho of tho of
House would , not dcHervo the name House Comraona of Eng land , if they did not mark too proceeding ? with reprobation . { Hear , hear . ) Sucn . a thing had wiver boltoe beon hoard of . It aaa been wwerved for tho prosent' Uberul' Government to throw tfhwt alur upon the House of Commons , ( ll&vr , / tear . ) —Sir I-Xnmvr Wrwcouorenv inquiwd- whether one million would Include tho whole olwucga of the wax and W 10 200 , 000 ^ . already votoil ?—The Chancel lor oir vim BxowB ^ ntB thought it was undoalrablo to go into a ntematuOT dlwmwilon , of the question . H » would state , however , that tUo inMloift waoiaoliwiw , and would re-
Untitled Article
No . 381 , Jtoy 11 , 1857 . 1 THE LEADER . 651
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), July 11, 1857, page 651, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2200/page/3/
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