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    No. 403, December 12,1857.1 THE LEABEE. ...

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    IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. - ¦ ¦ ¦ - •——?* *¦ ...

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    No. 403, December 12,1857.1 The Leabee. ...

    No . 403 , December 12 , 1857 . 1 THE LEABEE . ttito

    Imperial Parliament. - ¦ ¦ ¦ - •——?* *¦ ...

    IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT . - ¦ ¦ ¦ - •——?* *¦ —•—¦ ¦ ¦ ' ¦ ¦ Monday , December 7 th . OBSCENE BOOKS , & C , BILL . In the House of Lords , Lord Campbell moved for a return of the warrants , granted under the Act of Parliament of last session , for the prevention of the sale of obscene publications , and also of the steps that had "been taken under the said act . —The returns were ordered .

    CHURCH-RATES . The Earl of Mal 3 iesbuky asked whether it was the intention of the Government to bring forward , during the ensuing session , aiiy measure respecting churchrates .- —Earl GKANViLLt : sakl it would entirely depend upon , circumstances whether any such measure would be introduced . ANSWER TO THE ADDUESS . Earl St . Germans brought ' . up her Majesty ' s answer to the address of their Lordships , in answer to the Royal Speech ou Thursday week . It was couched in . the usual terms .

    LORD CANNING . Earl Gkanville corrected some statements which had been made on the first night of the session by-lord Derby with respect to the Governor-General of India , General Hearsey , and . the rewarding of a Sepoy who had distinguished himself by brave and faithful conduct . The man had been promoted with the express sanction of Lord Cauiihig , and not reprimanded ^ . as Lord Derby had supposed .

    SIR HENRY IIAVELOCK . Earl Granville brought up a message from , the Crown , recommending to the House to concur in enabling her Majesty to make provision for securing to Sir Henry Havelock a pension of 1000 ? . a-year for life . —A similar ' message , was laid before the House of Commons by Lord Palmerston .

    RESTRICTIONS ON THE INDIAN PRESS . The Earl of EllejSBouough moved for ^ a copy of the Arms Act , lately passed by the Legislative Council of India ; also a return of all native and European newspapers licensed under the Act of the Legislative Council , passed on the 13 th of last Juiie ; and also copies of all letters of warning addressed to the printers of any such native and European newspapers respectively , and of all revocations of the licenses of any of such newspapers } and of all correspondence relating to the restitution thereof . The Arms Act provides that Europeans in India are to apply to the magistrates ( -who are often natives ) for leave to possess arms . This , observed Lord EUenborough , is an infringement of the rights of 3

    inglishmen , aud he thought all Englishmen in India should be armed for the sake of self-protection . In fact , they should be compelled to bear arms , so that they might form a large militia . The act had excited great disgust among our countrymen in the East . His Lordship then called attention to the provisions of the measure passed in reference to the press in India , and contended that the Governor-General might have subjected the press to a censorship , instead of having recourse to the measures he had adopted . Uudcr the provisions of the law , the Governor-General might prohibit the publication of any book , pamphlet , or newspaper , wherever published , so that , after an interdict had been put upon a paper , the party receiving it would be liable to fine and imprisonment—the consequence being , that a person receiving an English newspaper containing strictures upon the Government came within the provisions of the act . On

    the other hand , the papers might publish tho fullest military details , thus putting the enemy in possession of important facts , the knowledge of which might be used against us . A great deal of mischief had been effected by the publication in the papers of letters from officers whose feelings had been embittered by witnessing the atrocities of the revolt . Great as had been the crimes of the Sepoys , due discrimination should be observed in their punishment , and we should avoid acting on a principle of wild revenge . In the day of victory , if it should come , wo ought to assume an attitude which should secure the sympathy and good-will of the people of India . —Earl Ghanvillk and tho Duke of Auuyi-l defended the course pursued by Lord Canning ; Earl Gkky and tho Marquis of CLANmcAunii also took a favourable view of the conduct of tho Indian Government , and deprecated discussion on the subject at that period ; while tho Earl of JIalmicsuuhy and Lord Disuur expressed their disapprobation of the Governor-General . In the House oi ? Commons , the answer to tliu Addross was brought up by Lord Castlehohsh . GAJPl'AIN liUUCKMANTLK AND TIIIC OKU'IC 15 » 8 OK Till ! JUNO . Mr . Waiuikn inquired of the fixst Lord of tho Admiralty whether hia attention hml been called ton recent naval court-marital held on an officer of her Mnjusty's ship Juno ; and whether any stops are contemplat ed by the Government in respect thereto . —Sir ( Jiiauucs Wood said ho greatly regretted that a distinguished oilicer , who had beun thirty years in tlio service , Iiad placed himself in a po . sit . ion to incur the censure- of the Board of Admiralty . Still , lie thought Captain FraemanUo had only acted out of a senso of duty . If the Juno had remained in commission for any ttmo longer , the iSuard of Ad mi nil ty would liuvu superseded Captain Freo

    mantle , bat , as the vessel at tlie time of these courts-martial was under orders to be paid off , it was considered that it would beifor the advantage of'the public service if no steps were then taken for his removal from the service . ( Rear , kear ^

    the 69 th kegiment . Mr . Scott asked on what ground the-69 th Regiment , being quartered at Plymouth , was removed from Plymouth to Portsmouth by rail to embark there , in . order to return by sea to Plymouth , before departing for the East Indies . —Sir John Kambden said that the hon . gentleman must have been misinformed as to the facts of the case regarding the embarkation of this regiment . Three ships were taken up by the East India Company to convey the regiment to Alexandria . Two of those ships took the troops on board at Plymouth direct , but the third was a mail steamer , aud under the terms of her contract was only allowed to embark at Portsmouth . Accordingly , a detachment was sent to Portsmouth and embarked there . .-.. •' .. ¦ '

    GUANO . THE KOORIA 3 IGORIA ISLANDS . In reply to Mr . Gaiud , Mr . Labouciiere said that , when the subject was laid before the House , lie had stated that her Majesty's Government were determined to afford assistance to the attempts that were being made to obtain guano in the -Koorui Mooria Islands , * and that a ship of war should be sent for the . protection , of persons engaged in the trade . That had been done , and a great number of English merchants had goue there . The Bombay Government had prevented the engagement of any labourers from Aden , and , as soon as this was brought to his knowledge , he hadcalled the attention of the Indian Government to tiie fact , expressing his hope that , if there were no valid reasons for this prohibition , it would not be continued . To that communication he bad not yet received any reply .

    THE EX . GLISH-PRISONERS AT NAPLES . In answer to Mr . Monckton Milnes Lord Pauierstox made- '' a .-statement- regarding the two engineers taken on board the steamer Cagliari , somewhat modifying that which he had made on the previous Iriday . He was . , sorry to * say that , by accounts he had received on Sunday from the acting British consul , it appeared that , although the engineers had not been subjected to actual torture , they had been confined in a dark , damp , gloomy cell ; that they had complained of their food ; and that one of them , in a fit of despondency , had made an attempt upon his life . There had been also an endeavour to falsify the evidence against them . There is nothing iu their present treatment materially to complain of ; but tne Government are expecting further accounts .

    BANK OT EXGLAS'D ' INDKMNrrr BILL . On the order for the second reading of this bill , Mr . Gladstone objected to the wording of the first clause , which indemnifies the Bank for acts of which Parliament knows nothing . lie asked for explanations respecting the profits on the issues already niade- ^ - whether they are to goto the . Bank of England or to the Government ; how they are to be computed ; whether they are to be profits of the issues or of the discounts ; and , lastly , whether the profits arc to be calculated on the amount of the issues made to tho issue department of the Bank , or on that portion only which will go to the public . —Sir H . Willouohby asked for further information with respect to tho necessity fox suspending

    the law . —Mr . Cayi , ey criticized the monetary systom of the country , which he considered impracticable without periodical collapses . —Mr . Conino-iiasi * regretted that the Government had not determined on abrogating tho act of 18-A 4 altogether . —Mr . Malins cordially approved of the bill . —air . C iiosslhy , Mr . R . Phillips , and Mr . Newimegate spoke in favour of the Bank of Eugland , but suggested the necessity of introducing 6 uch reforms into the law as would simplify financial matters anil avoid panics . —Mr , Buchanan and Mr . Kimc spoke against the act of 18-1-1 , which had not prevented undue speculation and overtrading , and which errs in applying an inflexible rule to that fluctuating thing ,. the currency .

    The Ciiancklj-or of niK ExciiKQUJm , in reply to Sir 11 . Wil lough by , said ho had no knowledge of unycombination or conspiracy to intimidate or influence the Bank of England , and he did not bclievo any hlicIi conspiracy existed . " With respect to tho application of tlie profits upon tho issuo of notcB under the Government letter , he said that , as the matter was still iu progress , he liad not thought it his duty to come to any definite conclusion . There was no depreciation of the currency , in the ordinary sense of thu term , by the issue of the extra 2 , 000 , OOOf . Mr . Spoonkk , in defending his theory , denied that he was mi advocate of a largo issue of unconvertible paper . —After a few words from Mr . Inouam ( who made some suggestions with respect to tho issue of notes ) , the bill was read a second time . Tho llouao adjourned iita quarter-past

    cight-Tuesday , JJeoemler 8 th . OTCNKKAli HA . YKI . OOK ' . S ANNUITY . In tho llousi-i ok Lohiih , the Clerk having read tho Chioen ' s Moasagf . with respect to General II nvolock'n minuily , Hurl ( iritA'NVii . i . K moved that the House should assure her Majesty Unit thtsy cheerfully concur iu thu proposition to niiikc a provision of 1000 ^ . u yonr for tin * ( Jeneral , and aro prepared to adopt the necessary

    measures . —X « rd Derby seconded the motion , and passed a higheulogium on General Wilson and ; oa Colonel Inglis t yrho commands the garrison at Lucknow . He . 'hoped justice would be done to the distinguished gsHantrv of the latter officer . —Earl GRAHvn . tE saidcthat , althongh it is gratifying to grant honours on the spot , it is necessary to have complete official information before doing so .- —The motion , was agreed to . —The Duke of Cambridge entered the House at a later period in the evening , and spoke to the same effect as Lord GranviUe about granting honours to Colonel Inglis ; on which Lord Derry emphaticall y disavowed any desire to diotate to the Government .

    "RELIGIOUS - WORSHIP ACT AMENDMEXT BILL . On the order of the day for the second reading of this , bill , Lord Skaitesbuky said he did not intend to press the second reading at that time , representations having been made to him that the benc ] i of Bishops are opposed to the measure . The object of the bill is to enable tfce Church of England to perform religious services in unconaecrated buildings ; and the measure arises out of the stop -which has been put to the Sunday services , in connexion with the Established Church , which have been held at Exeter Hall . Lord Shaftesbury felt some doubt as to the legality of that interference ; but he thought it better to amend the law so as to establish clearly the right of the Church to hold such services . —Lord Derby

    expressed his satisfaction that the bill had been postponed , as he disapproved of the principle involved in it . —The Bishop of St . David ' s sympathized heartily with the effort to extend the influence of the Ghurch among the -working classes , but doubted whether those classes had attended Exeter Hall in such numbers as had been supposed , and hoped the object . in view might ~ be attained without any important innovation ' on- 'the-parochial- system . — -The Bishop of London supported tie principle of the bill , and doubted whether the incumbent who had prohibited the Exeter Hall services had acted with a sound discretion , though doubtless he had acted conscientiousl y . Even when Westminster Abbey and St . Paul ' s are thrown open , there will be need of further church accommodation in London . It was impossible to believe that- , it was ever the intention of the law to give an incumbent a monopoly which should stand in

    the way qf the teaching , of the -Gospel . —The Bishop of Ripon ( who had preached at one of the Exeter Hall services ) asserted that the ^ congregation was mainly composed of the working classes . —Lord Campbell spoke in favour of the bill ; and Lord Panmuke added his testimony to that of the Bishop of Ripon with respect to the attendance in large numbers of the working orders . —The Earl of Shaftesbury read , a letter addressed to him , setting forth that an' individual , whose name he would not mention , had disapproved of the services in Exeter-hall , until he . heard-from a manufacturer that seventy of his men attended those services , -who never had , he thought , gone to churcli before . QITear , hear . } He moved the adjournment of the debate until the third sitting after the reassembling of Parliament in February . —Tlie debate was accordingly adjourned to the 8 th of February .

    THE TRANSPORT SHIP AUSTRIA , The Eakl of -Hakdwickk moved for « i copy of the contract made with the owners of the steam-ship Austria for the conveyance of the 91 th Regiment to India . That vessel had sailed for India with the troops , and put back ; it had sailed again with the troops , and put back ; and the regiment was now under orders to proceed to India overland . The vessel did not belong to an English company . —Lord Panmuke agreed to give the correspondence , but remarked that the vessels for the conveyance of the troops to India are taken up by tho directors of the East India Company , and not by the Government . He begged to add , in justice to tho East India Company , that , although they had taken up vessels for the conveyance of 50 , 000 troops to Indtu , scarcely any casualty had occurred , except in the oaee of the Austrin .

    The House adjourned about eight o ' clock . AUSTRALIAN 5 UH . SKltVIOB . In the IIolisio ok Commons , iu reply to Mr . Yoima , Mr . Baring stated that tho accident to the -mail-ship Emeu will involve tho loss of two mails , the outward mail from Suez : to Sydney , an < l tho January mail home . With regnrd to future arrangements , fbc Board of Admiralty has directed attention to the manner in which tho sen-ice has been conducted , and the company has undertaken that next Rummer there shall be four vessels in the . service between Su « z 4 ind Sydney , and that tho Emeu aboil be employed as a spare vessel .

    INDIA . In reply to Mr . VANSTTTAnr , who inquired whether , during tho tenure of tho'Governor-Generalship of Indiu by the Marquis of Dalhounio , any despatch was sent by the supreme Government or tlie Commander-in-Chief in India to tho Court of Director .- ** , or to tho President of tho Board of Control for an iiicmise . of European troops , inconsequence of tluM ; x-U * iiM <> ii <> i tho British territories in the Kast , Mr . Vicknon Smith said that no special communion ! ions t / ilco |» luco between tho President of the Hoard of Control « i >« l «* ' > ii ( Jovtiriior-Ueiieral of India . All pucIi coniimiilic'itioMS «« ' ' made to Um Hoard of Dirwtor . s ; and lm thought Hie best , courao for his hon . friend would bo to move for tho dwipatcli , if nny such existed . —Ju reply to MrJimir 1 ' AKiBjaroN , Mr . ViaifKON

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 12, 1857, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_12121857/page/3/