THE FIELD. 
753 
D A T 0 U M. — Drawn bv T. H. Wilson.— (S#o Togo 762). 
parliamentary. 
MONDAY — Lokds.— L ords Brougham, Campbell, and the Lord Chan- 
cellor Joined in deploring the untimely fate of the Bills of Exchange 
BUI, which, having prosperously made the passage through their Lord, 
ship's House, had been lost In the Commons on that dangerous point at 
this season, the second reading. Tho bill was an admirable bill. It was 
not at all, as had been alleged, a job, and it was sangulnely hoped that 
there was a better time coming for it next session. 
Lord Stradbroke then hoped that an uniform system of weights and 
measures might be introduced, bnt received small encouragement from 
Lord Aberdeen, who thought that tho subject required more mature con- 
slderation. 
Lord Montoagle, however, denied the difficulty of adjusting our weights 
and measures, and asked for a decimal coinage as well. 
The Lord Chancellor then abandoned one moro Law Reform Bill, and, 
on the motion of the Duke of Newcastle, the Bribery Bill was road a third 
time. 
On the motion that it should pass, tho Marquis of Clanrlcarde revived 
tho objections to tho clause which permits tho payment of tho travelling 
expenses of voters by the candidate. Ho moved an amendment on this 
clause, rendering It Illegal to pay such expenses. To this Lord Rcdesdale 
objected, os well on the ground that their Lordships should not Introduce 
such amendments in a bill deliberately adopted by the other House, as 
that the clause was necessary to prevent a preponderant influence 
accruing to the Inhabitants of towns. Tho Duke of Newcastle took a 
middle course. He admitted tho force of Lord Clanricarde's arguments, 
but doubted tho effect of his amendment, and proposed that, instead of 
reversing the decision of the Commons, the clause should be altogether 
struck out. To this Lord Campbell and other Lords with some hesita- 
tion assented, and, though Lord Clanrlcarde persisted in his amend- 
ment, it was defeated, the clause was struck out, and the bill passed 
Many othor bills were forwarded a stage without discussion, und their 
Lordships then adjourned. 
Commons.— T he Consolidated Fund Bill, with tho appropriation clause, 
passed through committee. 
On the order for going into committee on tho Encumbered Estates 
(West Indies) Bill, 
SirJ. I’akington made a strong appeal to tho Government on behalf 
of West India proprietors, with refcrcnco to the hurricane loans. He 
entreated the Government not to press for the full payment of tho loans ; 
the amount, he thought, should be reduced in tho same ratio as tile es- 
tates had diminished in value. 
Mr. J. Wilson explained tho general principles which the Government 
had laid down under tho acts passed for tho extension of payment of 
these loans, and which had been acted upon, ho said, In the most liberal 
spirit. Out of 69 estates, 41 had been brought to a settlement satisfac- 
torily by composition, sale, or settlement. IWhen a bond Jide holder of an 
estate, who was indebted under a loan, with a desire to come to a settle- 
ment, made a proposition to the Exchequer Loan Commissioners, it was 
met in tho most liberal spirit. 
Mr. Ellice contended that the whole question os to the circumstances 
under which the loans were advanced and tho present condition of tho 
West India proprietors should be referred to a committee to report on a 
liberal manner of dealing with it. 
Sir G. Grey said the law had placed the responsibility of recovering 
these debts in the hands of the Exchequer Loan Commissioners, and all 
he, as tho secretary of State for the Colonies, could do was to collect from 
tho West Indies aU tho Information he could obtain as to the condition 
of tho colonies, and refer It to the Treasury and tho Commissioners. 
The course pursued was to consider each individual case upon Its own 
merits, and the fairest consideration was given to every proposal. While 
there was no desire to press with undue severity upon parties, the Go- 
vernment were bound to look to the Just claims of the country. 
After some observations from Mr? Hankey and Mr. V. Scully, the 
Houso went into committee on the bill, the clauses of which were agreed 
to. 
The Legislative Council (Canada) Bill and tho Customs Bill likewise 
passed through committee. 
The Public Health Bill and the Mayo Count}' Advances Bill wore read 
a third time and passed. 
The Customs' Tariff Acts Consolidation Bill was read a second 
time. 
The Russian Government Securities Bill was read a third time. 
Sl u F- Kel| y moved to omit the first (material) clause, and tosubstltute 
another, which included in the prohibition subscriptions to a loan, and 
changed the terms of the remainder of the clause, and Inserting a pro- 
viso tlint trie act should not extend to any subscription or purcha'c in 
any country by any commercial house trading and having a place of 
business in any foreign country, and wherein a British subject and an 
alien were partners or jointly interested. 
The Solicitor-General opposed trie motion. 
urae objected to the principle of the bill, and recommended that 
the bill should be dropped. 
After a few remarks by Lord D, Stuart and Mr. Wilkinson, 
Lord J. Russell defended tho principle of tho bill, and, for trie reasons 
suggested by the Solicitor-General, did not thluklt advisable to adopt tho 
amendment of Sir F. Kelly. 
The amendment wos then negatived. 
Sir F. Kelly then moved a proviso, intended, he said, to prevent a 
great injustice to commercial men in this country without In tho 
smallest degree Injuring tho Emperor of Russia. 
Tills motion was ulso negatived, and, on tho question that tho bill do 
peas, trie Houso divided, whon tho ayes were 61 and the nocs 13. 
The bill then passed, and the Houso adjourned. 
TUESDAY.— Lords.— On tho motion of Lord Redcsdale, the standing 
orders of the Houso were amended, so as to provide that there shull ho 
only ono inquiry for both Houses Into tho question of compliance with 
such orders by the promoters of private bills, and 'Messrs. Smith and 
May wore appointed their lordships' examiners for this purpose. 
The Commons' amendments to the Episcopal and Capitular Estates 
(1854) Bill were agreed to. 
The Merchant Shipping Acts Repeal and tho Duchy of Cornwall Office 
Bills were severally read trie third tlmo nnd passed. 
The Public Revenue and Consolidated Fund Charges Bill was read tho 
second time, and tho standing orders being suspended, tho bill was passed 
through all its remaining stages. 
Tho Militia Bills were committed. 
The Public Health Bill passed through all Its stages, tho standing 
orders being suspended for that purpose. 
Tho Metropolitan Sewers Bill wus nlso passed, 
Other orders having been disposed of, their lordships adjourned. 
Commons — S ir George Grey stated that tho constitutional acts passed 
by tho Legislative Councils of New South Walos, South Australia, and 
Victoria, would be printed for consideration during tho recess. 
Lord John Russell moved that the Lords' amendments to tho Bribery 
Bill should bo agreed to. 
After discussion tho Houso divided, when the numbers wero— 
For agreeing to the Lords’ amendment .. 78 
For Lord I lot ham's amendment 21 
Majority for agreement —57 
Lord Ilotham then moved the adjournment of tho House, and was 
defeated by 68 to 16 ; and othor motions for adjournment being succes- 
sively rejected, at length a compromise was arrived at, to tho effect that, 
on condition oftlio operation of the bill being limited to ouo year, oppo- 
altion was not to be persisted in 
Lord John Russell assenting, tho Lords’ amendment were agreed to. 
On tho order of tho day for considering the Consolidated Fund (Appro- 
priation) Bill. 
Tho Common Law Proceduro Bill and the Bankruptcy Bill wero read 
a third time and passed. 
Tho House went into committee on tho East India Company’s 
revenue accounts, and 
Sir Charles Wood, addressing an audlenco of twelve members, pro- 
posed a series of resolutions based on accounts, to which. In their printed 
form, he continually referred the committee for fuller Information. Tho 
revenues nnd outgoings of tho different districts of Bcngul, Madras, 
Bombay, and tho north-western provinces he stated in detull, and showed 
that in each case there was a surplas which on the whole Indian account 
amounted to £531,265, and this, as compared with other years, was, lie 
showed, satisfactory. As regards the sources of re venue, he explained that 
tlicrcwos no probability of an increase in the land-tax, and that there would 
in all likelihood, bo no diminution in the revenue from opium . 1 n reb-rcoco 
to salt, a commission for investigation into trio existing system had been 
issued, and when the report arrived he should bo happy to produce It. 
There was no reason to anticipate an increase In the Customs revenue, 
nnd on the whole, therefore, there was no prospect of a general increase 
of revenue from India; nor, he added, was there much hope of dimi- 
nished expenditure. The feeling of trie Houso last year was that the 
expenditure for public works and for judicial establishments should be 
Increased rather than diminished, and the evidence that had been taken 
Justified this view. Nor would any ono desire a reduction in our ex- 
penditure for the purposes of irrigation. A very considerable reduction 
had, however, been made in trie very Important item of interest on the 
Indlan^debt, the great mass of the Indian Five per Cents, having been con. 
verted Into Four per Cents ,an.opcration immediately beneficial, and cal- 
culated to be still moro so in its ultimate results. Under trie circumstances, 
he could not recommend the running the risk of any remission of taxation. 
Lord Dalliousie's energy had been directed to internal improvements. 
Ho adverted to the opening of that gigantic work, the Ganges Canal, 
which he described as exceeding Tn lraportanco any work of ancient 
or modern times It served both" for irrigation and navigation; tho 
main trunk was 525 miles long, and the brandies 373, making together 
nearly 900 miles, with a breadth tarylng from 140 to 80 and 20 feet, and 
a depth varying from 10 to 8 and 5 feet. It would Irrigate 1£ millions 
of acres, and 64 millions of poople would reap benefit from It. It bad 
last year been decided that, let circumstances bo what they might, tho 
construction of trie Great Indian Railway must go on, and, once under- 
taken, tho works had been poshed on without delay ; a portion was in 
operation, and I10 hoped that mucli moro would bo spcodlly completed. 
An electric tciegruph from Calcutta to Agra, and from Agra to Bombay, 
had been constructed. Tho commissioners had not yet boon able to 
prepare a bill for dealing with tho law courts, but I10 hoped they 
would bo able to do so almost Immediately. Tho regulations for 
tho examination for admission to tho sorvice had been promulgated, ami 
the first uxuinlnatlon would take place In January noxt. As regarded 
lloilcybury, ho regretted that I10 could not report that anything had 
been done. Finally, ho came to tho Important consideration of what 
had been dono towards promoting education, described its condition in 
the various presidencies, nnd boro u tribute to tho successful working of 
the Indian colleges. Government proposed to do all that could bo dono 
in furtherance of education In India, namely, to (grant aid, utterly Irre- 
spoctlvo of rollglous instruction, to all schools, missionary, Mahometan, 
and Hindoo, lu which a sound secular education was given. It was pro- 
posed, also, to establish universities In trio centres of tho groat presi- 
dencies, on the model of tho London universities, and theao would grant 
degrees, and bolow thorn would bo established schools in which both 
English and tho vernacular should bo taught, and tho whole of thorn wero 
to be submitted to constant inspection, under an officer of the Government. 
There would also, probably, bo professional branches In tho colleges. At 
the close of tho honourable baronot's speech tho number .of members 
present amounted to twenty. 
Sir Ersklno Ferry expressed the utmost satisfaction with a largo and 
generous support which, for the first time, was being extended to tho 
cause of education in India. 
Mr. Klnnalrd thought tliut It would bo very advantageous If the governor 
of oacli presidency hud to present an annual written statement of Its 
affairs. 
After somo other observations tho resolutions wero agreed to, tho Houso 
resumed, and was shortly afterwards counted out. 
WEDNESDAY.— Commons — On the ordor lor tho third reading of tho 
Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Bill, 
Mr. llttino called uttontlon to the report of the lost session on tho 
tho slave-trade, and urged renewed application for tho fulfilment of tho 
treaties with Spain for a total suppression of tho trudo to Cuba, the only 
place, he sold, whero slaves were now carried. Ho acknowledged that 
everything had beeo'done by|her Majesty’s Government that could be dono 
with iho Government of Spain, but all efforts wero defeated by tho 
venality of trio Cuban authorities, countenanced by members of the Royal 
Family of Spain, who wero connected with tho trade. 
Lord J. Russell said it was unfortunately too truo that tho venality of 
official persons opposed obstacles, und it was notorious that Queen 
Christina derived a considerable profit from tho traffic in slaves. A change 
had, howover, taken place In tho Government of Spain, and General 
Concha had been appointed Governor-General of Cubu There was 
every disposition to put down this trade on tho part of her Majesty’s Go. 
vernraent, who would keep u watchful eyo on tho subject, and exert 
every effort to accomplish tho great object of putting a stop to this 
abominable traffic. 
Sir G. Pochell recommended the employment of a stronger naval force 
on tho coast of Cuba, with screw steamers of small draught. 
Sir H. Willoughby Inquired whether, as tho Chancellor of the Eichc- 
quer hud Intimated at tho beginning of ihe session, tho total expendi- 
ture for tho year, whlcii ho (Sir Henry) assumed at £64,000,000 or 
£65,000,000, would be defrayed by taxes raised within the year; or. If 
that principle was abandoned, what amount of debt would be contracted? 
Ho complained that the Chancellor had been selling savings-bank stock, 
! a proceeding which, ho said, was not only Injurious to tho savings-banks 
and to the bona fide holders of stock, but Involved a great constitutional 
principle. 
The Chancellor of tho Exchequer said, lie had nothing to add to what 
he had already stated to tho House on tho subject of our finances, but, 
as far us ho could Judge at present, tho expenditure would bo provided 
for without any addition whatever to trie national debt. In reply to a 
question by Mr. Wilkinson, ho admitted that the sales and purchases of 
stock by tho Commissioners had, In somo Instances, resulted in a loss of 
capital. 
In answer to an Inquiry by Mr. J. Phllll more. 
Admiral Bcrkcly said, no certain Intelligence had been received by the 
Admiralty respecting the Russian steamer Vladimir eluding tho block- 
ade at Sebastopol. 
Tho bill was then read a third timo, and, after a few observations by 
Sir H. Willoughby and Mr. Hume, passed. 
Tho Encumbered Estate (West Indies) Bill, with tho Legislative Coun- 
cil (Canada) Bill and tho Customs Bill, was then read a third tlmo and 
passed. 
The report on tho East India Company's rovonuo account* was 
brought up and agreed to. „ ,, 
Tho Lord'ti amendment* of BOTcnil bills wero considered and 
agreed to. 
Sir. W. Lindsay moved an address praying Her Majesty to appoint 
a commission to Inquire into the present state of tho river Tyne. 
After some observations by Mr. Ingham, Mr. Hume, and Sir. Wilson, 
the motion was agreed to. 
The House adJournod at 5 minutes to 4 0 dock. 
