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    748 THE LEADER, [Saturday^

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    The Week In Parliament. Tub Eastern Ques...

    been in the enjoyment of 19 , 200 Z . per annum , was to have 8000 Z . a year , and to pay the residue ( ll , 200 Z . ) to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners . The moment the proposition was made t \ re was a correspondence , which reflected anything but credit upon the bishop . It was a trial of skill between the bishop and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners—whether the bishop would pay lesa or the commissioners receive more . At length the commissioners were firm , and notwithstanding his protests that he , would be ruined , and the see would not yield ; the 8000 ? . a year , they made him pay , and the net average of the see for the last year , so far from not being sufficient to pay the 8000 Z . actually produced 24 ^ 000 ? . ( Loud cries of ' Hear , hear . ' ) Then , again , take the case of the Dean and Chapter of "Westminster . That body own fifteen houses in Great

    Stanhope-street , Mayfair , and they are worth 8000 Z . per annum . But in consequence of the enormous fines levied on the houses , the dean and chapter only receive 150 Z . a year , whereas , if the property were in the hands of an individual it would produce 80002 . a year . There is also the case of property at Bickmansworth , in Hertfordshire . The Bishop of London ran his life against the lease , and the property fell in . One or two churches were built upon it . The tithes amounted to 14002 . a year , and surely it would have been better to have used that property to endow the churches necessary for the spiritual wants of the district . But what was the result ? When the lease fell in , the bishop very naturally granted a lease to trustees for his own use , or for that of his family , for twenty-one years , and by this means the Church has been actually robbed of the money . "

    Lord John Russell advised the postponement of the bill , and expressed his reluctance to be compelled to vote directly against its second reading , because such vote might convey a false expression of his opinion on the bill . " I am far from saying that the principle of the bill is not the principle which Parliament ought to adopt . " But the question being grave , and this period of the session late , the bill ought to be postponed . Provoked by Sir Benjamin Hall ' s remarks , Lord John then explained , that Bishops are not as bad as they seem . The differences between them and the Estates

    Commissioners really arise from the difficulties of commuting fluctuating into fixed incomes . Sometimes the bishop received less ~ than the income fixed by Parliament , and sometimes more . In the case of Dr . Maltby , the bishop acted under the advice of Mr . Gresley , who had stated that the income of the see could not afford the deduction insisted upon by the Commissioners . In deference to the general wish of the House , the Marquis of Blandford ( whose good intentions were praised by members at all sides ) , then withdrew the bill—promising to lay it on the table of the House next session .

    CHARITABLE TRUSTS . All charitable trusts are in future to be managed by certain commissioners appointed by the Crown . One clause provides that whenever money is left for the support of the Christian religion it shall be presumed to be intended to benefit the established church . This was opposed by Mr . Miall , but was carried by 11 to 39 . It is proposed to expressly exempt Roman-catholic trusts from the operation of the Bill , as it is feared that , if not so exempted , they might come under the illegal description of trusts dedicated to " superstitious

    uses . " It is too late in the session to frame a bill legalising Roman-catholic trusts , besides that such legalisation would introduce , for the first time , a recognition of the Roman-catholic Church . Therefore it is proposed to omit , by name , all Roman-catholic trusts iroin the control established by the Bill . Sir Frederick TiiESiOEit strongly objected to this , as a continuance of the unprotected state in which Roman-catholic charities are placed , their inal-adininistrntion not being capable of redress , for the law docs not recognise them

    jit all . There is no danger of the law being applied to them ns " superstitious uses , " but tlioro is danger that tho Cabinet mean to continue to the Romnn-cntholic Church the privilege of having their charitable trusts exempted from the control of the law . Lord John Husbell showed the necessity of tho express exemption . By law , at present , a bequest for masses ) for tho tload oouid be made void , on tho ground that it was for " superstitious uses ; " therefore it is necessary to protect Ronian-catholies from that danger . On a division , 87 to 70 carried tho exemption .

    JUVIONILE O 1 'KJ ? N ]) KU 8 HILL . The object of thin bill is the permissive establishment hy counties or boroughs , or by counties and boroughs conjointly , of reformatory schools for young criminals where they shall bo taught pdmc industrial trade , and be supplied with parental euro and homo influence , instead of being subject to the rough and unsatisfactory treatment of u whorl , iinpriKonmont in our common gaoln . The evil which the bill hcoIcs to remedy i . s a grout one , no loan than the existence throughout the country , nnd especially in largo towns , of nn immense ) cIiish of children , who , by tho alwonco of parental care , fall into criminal habits of life . Mr . Adderlex moved tho second reading of tho

    bill . Lord PalmerSTON briefly stated the points of the question , and asked to have the bill postponed for better consideration * He said : — " The object in dealing with crimes and offences ^ may be said to be threefold—in some cases the object is example , in others the object is a combination of exaihple and reformation , and in others it is altogether ^ that of reformation . With regard < to crimes of great violence and atrocity committed by full-grown persons , the interests of society require that the punishment should be exemplary and penal—that they should deter others from the commission of similar crimes . In such eases reformation is

    out of the question . The greater number of crimes committed by adults are of a mixed character , in the punishment of which example is required for the purpose of deterring others from imitation , but with respect to _ wlich hopes of reformation are not to be abandoned . With regard to them , therefore , the o"bjects of punishment should be of a mixed and twofold character . But I am qiite ready to admit that , with regard to children , you must consider reformation to be your object . The punishment of them , with the view of deterring other children from committing similar offences , is of secondary importance . I think that the general principle recommended by the honourable gentleman is one deserving the greatest consideration , and I trust that a measure upon the subject

    may be passed next session . The details of the measure would require very mature consideration . I think that we might combine this with that measure which came down from the House of Lords with respect to the treatment of destitute children . There is other business of practical importance before the House , and it would not , therefore , be wise to prolong the present discussion . I think the best thing which honourable members can do in this matter is to read , during the recess , the evidence taken before the committee referred to by the honourable gentleman . If they do that we shall be able , when Parliament meets again , to enter into a discussion of the question , with a view to some immediate and practical measure . ' '

    After some approving remarks from Sir James Graham , and thanks to the Government from Mr . Monckton Milnes , the bill was read a second time , and ordered to be committed this day three months .

    MERCHANT SHIPPING . When a Queen ' s ship saves the merchandise or . crew of another ship , no claim for salvage is to be allowed in respect of any damage done to her Majesty's ship , or any loss of stores , in consequence of the exertion . This is the effect of a new clause in the new bill regulating the merchant service . Tho-Queen ' s ships have at present a right to take from any merchant vessel any number of volunteers . The power is but little exercised , though existing in full force . At all the different stations in the course

    of the last eighteen months only 170 men have volunteered . The question has been treated as a question of morality , but it is also a question of humanity . It affects most beneficially the condition of the men upon a long voyage . Of the 170 cases , 10 were volunteers from ill-usage , 8 from bad provisions , 7 from bad usage and bad provisions , 13 from having had quarrels with their masters or officers , and 61 from discontent generally . Out of the 170 , 155 had been replaced , and only 40 left without the consent of their masters .

    Considering , therefore , the value and the age of the right , the absence of any injustice in asserting it , and the compensation which it makes , it is a measure alike of expediency , humanity , and equity to the seamen in the merchant service . In reply to Mr . Hutt , and many other representatives of seaport towns , who pressed tho Government to abolish this power , as being unjust and injurious to tho merchant service , Sir James Graham and Mr . Cardwell thus defended it . Its retention was affirmed byl 29 to 49 .

    The funds arising from tolls , light dues , and such charges , are in future to be applied to the execution of services tending to diminish the expense of the services defrayed at present by such fund . The amendment to this effect was proposed by Mr . Cairns , and assented to by Mr . Cardwell .

    NAVAL VOLUNTEERS . The voluntary principle used in the Militia is to bo applied to the new coast volunteers for tho naval service , in our rivers nnd in tho coasting trudo there aro a number of men who will accept with avidity tho bounty of G / . a man , which this bill offers , and to thorn wo should look for making up the complement naiictioned by this bill . It in proposed in tho first instance that 10 , 000 men should bo raised , while it will bo stipulated , that the men should not bo taken more than

    50 leagues from the Jtritiwli or Irish coast . I ho period of training in limited to 28 days . Tho men will receive tho pay of . able seamen in tho navy , and bo called out for five years ; but in eauo of upecinl emergency they will bo obliged to servo for another year , and if tho dangor continues , and is imminent after that period , then tho volunteers will bo callod out for an additional year , receiving hii addition of % l . a day to thoir pay , and being obliged to go 100 leagues from tho coast . It in in contemplation to appoint one commanding officer to wuperintond tho training over tho wholo of tho

    United Kingdom . On the motion of Sir James Gbaham the Bill passed through committee on Monday , the only material objection made being by Admiral Walcot . He objected to the words , "in the case of an invasion ; " they might give offence . But the gallant Admiral ' s apprehensions were tranquillised , and the clauses of the Bill were agreed to without amendment . . ¦ : •¦ ¦ . ; , . !„ - ¦ _ ¦ ¦ ^ , ¦¦; . ¦ . ; On bringing up the report on . the Bill Sir James . Graham stated that he had " considered" Admiral Walcot ' s objection , and that for fear of giving offence he would omit the words , " in case of an invasion /' He would substitute the words , "in case of an apprehension of national danger . "

    IRISH TENANTS . The right of the landlord to distrain growing crops has been struck out of the new bill—Lord Monck having moved an amendment to that effect . Sir William Verner fiercely opposed the alteration-rr-denouncing the bill as encouraging ribandisna , repeal , and several other abominations . Mr . George Alexander Hamilton also opposed the amendment ; but it was carried by 90 to 74 .

    In case the landlord proceed to eject , not for nonpayment of rent , or for breach of covenant , but at his own pleasure , the tenant shall be allowed time to put in his claim ior compensation . A clause to this effect has been added by Mr . Keogh to the Tenant Compensation Bill . Sir Arthur Brooke took occasion thereupon to denounce the reckless way in which English members voted away the rights of Irish property . Lord John Russell denied the charge , and mentioned , with high praise , Mr . Napier as the originator of the present hill . A proviso , enacting that the tenant shall file , within twelve months , a declaration of his claim for improvements , stating their value , so that the landlord may know the particulars of the claim , was also added on the motion of Mr . Keogh .

    COFFEE AND CHICORY . A minute issued by Lord Derby ' s Government prohibited the mixture of chicory with coffee . Lord Aberdeen ' s Government have repealed this minute , and allow chicory to be mixecTwith coffee if the mixture is stated on a label affixed to the article sold . The coffee planters of Ceylon have complained through Lord Torrington that the consequent consumption of chicory instead of coffee seriously diminishes their trade , and that the British revenue Itself 13 Injured by the consumption of chicory in preference to coffee . In the

    year ending June last the consumption of coffee had diminished by 668 , 0001 bs . as compared with 1852 , and nearly 700 , 0001 bs . as compared with 1851 . The shopkeepers now charge the people Is . for an article which does not cost them more than 3 d . or 4 d ., and they realize at this moment the enormous sum of 1 , 200 , 000 / . out of chicory sold among the poorer classes of the people . After Lord Derby ' s treasury minute there was an increase in the consumption of coffee , but after Lord Aberdeen ' s treasury minute the consumption decreased .

    A defence of the new regulations was made by Lord Aberdeen . Chicory is not unhealthy ; some like their coffee pure , but many like tho mixture of chicory . When such mixture is stated distinctly on the label no fraud" is committed . The difficulty with traders of keeping chicory for separate snlo is , that ground chicory after any length of time becomes caked , and cannot he mixed until ground again . Therefore it is a great convenience to dealers to be allowed to keep the coffee and chicory mixed together . Several peers took part in the discussion—Lord Monteagle opposing the Government view of the question , mainly on the ground that tho revenue derived from coffee would bo diminished

    by the preferential consumption of coffee . THE BARON DE BODE . This gentleman , though of foreign family , is a British subject , having been born in England . Ho possessed property in Alsace at tho time of tho revolution . It was confiscated . At th «* 1 restorat 3 on the French Government arranged to make compensation to tho owners of all proportion confiscated , and a joint English and French commission was instituted to investigate claims . By a mistake on tho part of the commissioners full ovidenco of tho baron ' s right to

    compensation was not received , and Iuh claim was not allowed . Ho has again and again petitioned Parliuinont for redress , nnd prayotl that Iuh claim might bo satisfied out of tho surplus tlmt ' remained of tho Aw *** placed at tho disposal of tho commissioners ft * the liquidation of such claims . A committee of fJ'O Houseof Lordrf was at length appointed , nnd it recommended that tho claim of tho baron should botfaid . No action , however , wan taken on thiu rop ^ t . Therefore Lord LYNDHUJtBT revived tho question on Monday night in an eloquent nnd perspicuous exposition . Tho LoE » Chancellor opposed any allowanco for tho claim , on

    748 The Leader, [Saturday^

    748 THE LEADER , [ Saturday ^

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 6, 1853, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_06081853/page/4/