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    ¦' 432 .. ¦' . ' .. ¦ ..- ' ¦:¦ T HE LEA...

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    POLITICS AT THE FEAST OF ART. Art entert...

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    The Week In Parliament. The Mi1itia Bill...

    compulsory clauses . Mr . Walpomg startled the House ' Vy replying that Ministers intended to introduce a proviso to the effect that the compulsory clauses should not he resorted to until after December , 1852 . This was regarded , in the discussion which followed , as an admission that there existed no immediate necessity for the measure .. . Reproving Mr . Cobdeii for implying—what that gentleman afterwards anxiously disclaimed—that the people of England are vagabonds , Mr . Disbaeu thus briefly and emphatically explained the grand object of the Militia Bill : —

    " This was the first attempt to habituate the people of this country to the use of arms , to vjJiich tliey were not at present generally accustomed . Circumstances , irresistible circumstances , had for a long time rendered such a policy necessary ; and if this Sill should be adopted , though it was not a measure that would produce a disciplined army able to encounter the veteran legions of the world , it toould be the first step in a right direction , and would lay the foundation of a constitutional system of national defence . ( Cheers . )" Ultimately Mr . Milker Gibson moved that the word eighty thousand should not form part of the clause—an amendment negatived by 207 to 106 . Mr . Bbight now complained of the lateness of . the hour , and it was agreed that the chairman should report progress and sit again on Friday . CONSTITUTION FOE NEW ZEALAND . Sir J . Paking-ton moved , on Monday , for leave to bring in a bill to grant a representative constitution to the colony of New Zealand . "He explained the scheme of the constitution proposed by the present Government , pointing out , as he proceeded , wherein it differed from that designed by Earl Grey . It was their opinion that New Zealand should be considered as one colony , and that it should be divided into seven provinces , each governed by a superintendent , appointed by the Gorernor-in-Ghief , with a salary of 5001 . a-year , each superintendent to have a legislative council of not

    fewer than nine members , to be entirely elective , the franchise of the electors ( natives not being excluded ) to be as follows : —a freehold worth 501 ., or a house , i f in a town , worth 10 Z . a-year , if in the country , 51 . a-year , or leasehold property , with an unexpired term of three years , worth KM . a-year . The question whether members of these provincial councils should be paid was left to the central legislature . Sir John read a list of the subjects , amounting to fourteen , upon which the provincial councils would be restrained from legislating . The duration of these councils it was proposed to limit to four years . The central legislature would consist of the Governor-in-Chief , as head , and of two chambers . In the scheme of Lord Grey but

    the upper chamber was to be a representative body ; there was no precedent in any colony for an electivo upper chamber , and the present Government recommended that the members of the upper chamber of the central legislature should be appointed by the Crown during pleasure . The lower chamber was to be elective , the franchise for the constituency the same as that for the provincial councils . The number of members for the upper chamber of the central legislature was to bo not less than ten nor more than fifteen , at the discretion of the Governor-in-Chiof ; that of the lower chamber not less than 26 nor more than 40 . Five years was intended to be the duration of the central parliament , the acts of which would override thoao of the provincial legislatures . It was proposed should

    that thoro should be a civil list ; that 12 , 000 ? . a-ycar bo retained , out of which the salarios of the superintendents should bo paid , and that 7000 Z . a-year should be reserved for nativo purposes . All arrangements respecting the town lands to bo in the hands of the general legislature . It could not bo expected , ho observed , that such a ¦ measure . as this could bo final , and changes would bo introduced into tho bill whoroby the local legislature should have full power from time to time , to enact changes in tho constitution with thtt- consent of the Crown . It was for tho JIouho to deeidfe whether this bill camo within tho category of " necessary measures ; " he believed it did : but it tho House was of a different opinion , tho alternative was , it being highly inexpedient to allow tho act of 1840 to revive , to Buspcnd that conotitution for another year . "

    There was a pretty general concurrence in tho motion , tho speakers boing Sir R . Inglis , Mr . Gladstone , Mr . Hume , Mr . V . Smith , Sir W . Molesworth , and Lord John Russell , who trusted thut tho bill would not meet with any considerable opposition ; and leave was given to bring it in .

    TENANT 1 U 0 HT . Nothing now or interesting was brought out in tho adjourned " debate on Mr . Sharman Crawford ' s Tenant Bight . Bill , which took place on Wednesday . . Mr , ConoMjV spoke iVoin this landlord point of view , do * flouncing tho . Bill imd its- author * , and asmivting that they used it only n » " n , means of stirring up tho uonulace for a time with some wretched pettifogging defended tho

    viow to electioneering . " Mr . MoNHNJ / fi principle of the Bill , and referred tho present dosperuto state of Ireland to tho absence of a proper relation between landlord and tenant . He completely upset tho argument , that as tho landlord and tenant law of England worked well , it was * therefore applicable to Ireland , by pointing out the vast diflbronco between the manners , customs / habits , and religion of tho people of the two countries . Lord Njub objected to

    the Bill , which he said would reduce Ireland to a mere desert . Following the example of Mr . Disraeli on the franchise question , Lord Naas . taunted Mr . Crawford with having left the case of the labourers untouched , who , he said , " were as much entitled to a fair share of the emoluments of the land as the tenant farmer on landlord , "—rather a dangerous doctrine for a Con * seryative . You , he continued , have not proposed a valuation of their day ' s hire , and you don't intend them to share in the benefits of the Bill . That fact showed the " utter selfishness" of the measure ! Mr . G . H . Mooke replied chiefly to the speech of the Attorney-General for Ireland on a former occasion : —

    Mr . Napier said the bill he should propose would confer freedom of contract . " It was said , " continued Mr . Moore , "that everything must be done in these times in the spirit of 'freedom of contract . ' What jargon ! In every civilized community the right of contract was limited by considerations of public good ; all contracts ¦ vicious , demoralizing , or dangerous to the State were avoided by law . From the usury laws down to the byelaws regulating the hire of cabs , freedom of contract was restricted . Shylock was for freedom of contract . It would be a return to the rudest arid most elementary form of savage legislation . " He denied that there was any real analogy between the law of England and Scotland and that of Ireland . " The landlord and tenant rahis ( Mr . Moore ' s ) part of Ireland stood in a wholly different position from that which obtained in England . They were aliens in bloodlanguage , and religion . The landlord was

    sur-, rounded by no ancient and national recollections but those of shame ; the tenant was a vassal , the descendant o a colony of exiles ; and between them there was no sympathy of race . Christianity itse lf appeared to be an element of repulsion between them , and they hated each other for the love of God . These strong allegations were followed up by a striking description of the way improved land was appropriated by the soil owners . " The landlord ' s original title was confiscation , and he had since effected scarcely any other operation upon the soil than that of confiscating the labour of man . Drains and buildings , and fe nces , the unaided work o the tenant , were sucked in to the omnivorous vortex of what was called ' property ; ' and what was wanted was a law that would

    ¦ work out its own ends , and trust nothing to the honour or honesty of man . A peasant took land on the mountain side , and built , and fenced , and drained , and tilled ; the most skilful agriculturist could not make it pay for reclaiming ; the tenant gave his labour at the mere price of existence , investing in the soil all the difference between the fair wages of labour and that which supported human life . Without the aid of his landlord , he built , dug , fenced ^ drained , manured , and sowed and reaped , and begot a race of hardy tillers of the soil ; but , at the end of his lease , the little estate he had created on the earth ' s surface by a life of labour was snatched from him , coolly appraised as the property of another , and lie was robbed of it . "

    Mr . Mooee wound up by an allusion to the exodus of the Irish race , asserting that they " were passing , not to the . grave—then there might be peace between the two—but to a new world , where their first hope was refuge from the power of Britain , and their next vengeance on British legislation . " The other speakers were Sir Wiiliam SomebviIiI . e , Lord Claud Hamilton , and Mr . Napier , against tho

    bill , and Mr . Reynolds for it . Mr . Napier renewed his promises . Ho had framed three bills . " The first was a consolidation of nearly seventy statutes relating to the law between landlord and tenant . ( Cheers . ) The second had reference to the consolidation of leasing powers , and arranging the terms of letting land , so far us a contract between two parties was concerned ; and the third bill was to provide compensation for improvements to the industrious tenant . ( Cheers . )"

    Mr . Ckawjfobd replied , and tho House divided ; when there were—For tho second reading , 57 ; against it , 1 G 7 . Majority , 110 . The bill wus consequently lost .

    HOUSE OP LORDS . Lord LYNDiiunST moved , on Tuesday , for leave to introduce a bill to abolish certain dinabilitien imposed by tho Htatuto of tho Oth of George I . Ho hnd been induced to consider this question on general grounds , but public attention had been recently drawn to it by a decision of the Court of Exchequer , on the ease of Mr . Alderman Salomons . Lord Camimikll having expressed tho pleasure ho felt at tho motion , Lord Dhiuj y hoped that the House would not 1 ) 0 lod away from tho general question into

    a discussion on Jewish disabilities He did not question the right of Lord Lyndhurst to introduce such a measure on general grounds , but lio thought it unfortunate that ho had elioson the present moment for bringing it forward , when tho . particular case to which he had alluded wan still unsettled . With respect to that ciiho , the Government thought that , if Mr . Alderman Salomons presented a petition , representing tho grievances to winch ho was actually subjected after his appeal wan decided , ho would bo " fairly entitled to an net of indemnity . The' Marquis of Lanbdownic hoped thut Lord Lyndhurtft would bring ibnvnrd his bill at once ,

    independently of all allusions to the case of Mr . Alclerm Salomons . After some further dlscussibrij the bill ;•& * read a first time . ^

    ¦' 432 .. ¦' . ' .. ¦ ..- ' ¦:¦ T He Lea...

    ¦' 432 .. ¦' . ' .. ¦ ..- ' ¦ : ¦ T HE LEADJA [ SA-ttoitDAY ,

    Politics At The Feast Of Art. Art Entert...

    POLITICS AT THE FEAST OF ART . Art entertained politics on Saturday at dinner i other words , the Royal ' Academicians gave that annual feast , now become famous . Present in the liast Hooni were the late and the present Prettier , the " puke " ttye late and actual Chancellor of the Exchequer and other Ministers ; several representatives of diplomacy officers of both services , one or two bankers , a good sprinkling of first-rate men of letters , men ' .. of science and men of wealth , and > of course , a garnishing of painters . Sir Charles Eastlake , the President , was naturally chairman on the occasion , and he performed the pleasant duties of his post in a manner consistent with the character of the Academy . The 1 st of May was , lie reminded the guests on proposing the health of Prince Albert , the anniversary of the opening of the Exhibition ; and in tagging the name of the Duke to the toast of " the Army and Navy , " hedid not forget that the 1 st of May is the birthday Of the old hero . The Duke of "VVellington said—Mr . President and Gentlemen of the Royal Acadeinyj I beg leave to r eturn iny thanks to you for the honour you have done me in drinkine iny health , with your good wishes for the armv

    and navy . What I particularly request to call tlie attention of the company to is the fact that this happens to be iny birthday . ( Cheers . ) By the favour with which I have been received b y the -Royal Academy , and most particularly on this occasion * I beg again , as I have frequently done before in this assembly , tb return thanks for the navy ( cheers ) , though I see present my noble friend the First Lord of the Admiralty , who is more nearly connected with that service . But I have to do no more than to express to you that both services are duly and highly sensible of the honour done to them , and the advantages they derive from the approbation of such gentlemen as those who compose the assembly I have the pleasure of addressing .

    Gentlemen" , the services will be rejoiced Upon learning that it is considered they continue to deserve the appro * bation of their country , ( Cheers . ) Both services ; but particularly the army , have been , involved in great difficulties , but I do not doubt , gentlemen , but Jhat it will turn out that the approbation of this company is founded upon a just estimate of the manner in which they have performed their duty . ( Cheers . ) It has been highly satisfactory to me , as it must have been to all of you , to have observed that in the great difficulties and misfortunes which all services are liable to , the officers and soldiers of the army have conducted themselves as they ought to do . difficult cir

    ( Cheers . ) They have shown , under the most - cumstances , the utmost subordination , order , and discipline ( cheers ) , and the officers of the navy were in these trials the first to provide for the relie f of the helpless . ( Loud cheering . ) The women and the children ( said his Grace , with an emphasis and feeling that affected the whole company ) were all saved—an account was given and rendered of every child and woman . ( Cheers . ) This , gentlemen , is a proud fact for the services of this country—it must have been satisfactory to you all , and it sho ws that , under any circumstances , you can rely upon their subordination and discipline . ( Cheers . ) In tho name of the army ana navy I beg to return you thanks for tho honour you havo

    done them . . ' . Soon after this he left the company , to visit Miss Burclett Coutts , a visit which many years he has nindo on his birth-day . Tho Chevalier Bunsen acknowledged " The lorcign Ministers ; " ami the President , proposing " Our Distinguished Guests , " eulogized the patrons , and fiir more tho critics , of art — na Landor , Froude , Sterling , Ruskin ; a compliment returned , on the port of the former , by the Marquis of Salisbury , who gave Ji » o Health of tho President ; " which Sir Charles acknowledged , taking the opportunity to do -honour to tiw he Mri

    memory of Turner , and to propose "T ° > Derby . " In proposing this , tho President said time the professors of the Fine Arts lived in "WJ ignorance of polities , " a remark which drew from WM Derby , in his reply , the further confession , that one « tho most satisfactory things that could happen to public man , was to indulge sometimes in that wipiJ ignorance of political life , meeting thoro old oppomww , nnd testifying "to that which it is the prido < n » gliHlnnon to believo can subsist with political dim . onces , namely , tho Kincero indulgence of personal u private lnond » hip . " ( Loud cheers . ) Sulwcqutnuy ,

    ho said , — n r .. . " Whatever mny bo tho term of duration <> '''; * "' t <> nu « t . to which I " am proud to belong , I may von ™ imlulfio thohopo-aml I bolicvo I flhnll ho Nuppoi «*^ politioftl friondL and opponent s-that by «»« Jj on und friendly mediation with tho right hon . Bon « u " my right * ( fiir G . Wood , we hoHovo ^ , nn < l . th < r > yj * it mmHomnn immediately bohind me ( rolorring t *> «* ji » of , Mr . Disraeli which wa « placed juat ho hind tuo i . lord ) , wo may havo an opportunity ol tostiiyuiff ov » will to a ploiiHing and dofightftil nrfc , bv providmg » " ^ ntting nnd moro adequate locality Qoud oheovp to „ ffmiHiiiviH nt nnniimfc nnd modem art , wnicn or >** J nl 0

    tins country has boon rapidly ttcoumulating , ft nU tin ^ more rapid accumulation of which litfelo nioro l « w ^ ihnn that which I hope Government may have u

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), May 8, 1852, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_08051852/page/4/