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Leader (1850-1860), 14th February 1857, Edition 2 of 2, Page 4, 148 ¦'" ¦ . THE LEADER, [No, 360, Saturn

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      Imperial Parliament. —?—Monday, February...

      on the table fail to establish satisfactory grounds for the violent proceedings resorted to with respect to the case of the Arrow at Canton . " " That a select committee be appointed to inquire into the state of our commercial relations with China . " .

      ¦ WTXDING-TJP OF BANKRUPT COMPjVNIES . Jlr . Butler asked the Attorney-General whether he intends to introduce any measure to facilitate the winding-up of bankrupt companies , to render speedy assistance to creditors , and to prevent the serious expenses and loss to the creditors and shareholders which exist under the present condition of the law ?—The Attorney-Gkneral , adverted to the state of the law , and to the evils which had arisen out of it in the caae of the Royal British Bank . His intention was to consider the clauses of the Joint-Stock Acts in combination with the bill submitted last session , but not passed , with the view of considering of a remedy , as regards the winding-up of Joint-Stock 3 anks and Insurance Companies .

      PENAL SETTUEMENTS . In answer to a question from Mr . Lidded , Mr . Labouchere said it was in contemplation to inquire whether the settlement on the Massarooni River , in British Guiana , may not be made available for convicts from the United Kingdom . It is now used as a convict station for purely colonial purposes .

      THE NELSON COLUMN . Sir Benjamin Halj ,, replying to Mr . "Warren , explained that the Nelson column had originally been commenced by private subscriptions ; that the monument had afterwards been handed over to the Commissioner of "Works ; that various sums of money had been paid by the nation , but that four or five thousand pounds were still required . If Parliament voted that money , the works would be carried on with the utmost expedition ; but he did not think it advisable this year to ask the House to make any advance for the purpose .

      CAPITAL PUNISHMENT . Mr . Ewakt gave notice that , on that day fortnight he intended to ask for leave to bring in a bill to assimilate the law in Scotland relating to capital punishments with that of England .

      SIB ROBERT PEEE / S LATE SPEECH . In reply to a question by Mr . Stafford , Sir Robert Pkel admitted the substantial accuracy of a report which had been made of his recent speech , in which lie severely handled several continental celebrities . But , le added , " as regard ' s Count de Morny , I absolutely repudiate having said anything that might not be said by any gentleman in this house of any friend or relative of his own . I said he was ' le plus grand speculateur de VEurqpe ; ' and I did not intend by that assertion to imply anything detrimental to his honour or character . { Hear , hoar . ) Tn ft »« fc , immeUlately on my arrival in town , I wrote to Count de Morny to say that envy and

      malice had done their best to twist my expression into something- odious , but that I distinctly repudiated having meant anything prejudicial to his character or to the position he occupied . QHear , hear . " ) Now I could not say more . As regards the Grand Duke Constantine of Russia , that is another matter . " { Hear , hear . ' ) Sir Robert then explained that , when he said he did not impress him ¦ with the idea of " a frank and open-hearted sailor" which were " the words of the gallant Admiral sitting there" ( Admiral Napier)—he meant that he gave him

      the idea of " man of great powers of mind ( laughter ); intact , that he was not a' mere simple sailor , but a man of a far greater grasp of mind . " ^ Renewed laughter . ) With respect to the Prince de Ligne , Sir Robert admitted that he did say of him that he was " as stiff and starch as the frill of Queen Elizabeth . " ( JLauglder . ) If —though he could not himself hold tliat opinion—it was thought he had given offence by tliese light , airy attempts to "hold the mirror up to Nature , " as he believed Goldsmith (!) had said { laughter ) , he bogged publicly to > tender the most ample expressions of regret .

      THE SECRET TREATY A < JAIN . Lord Palmerston corrected an error ho had made on Tuesday evening with respect to the convention of December , 1854 , between Trance and Austria . He believed on that evening , and ho so stated , that the convention had never been signed ; but he had since discovered that it had been signed . However , as Austria never declared war with Russia , it became a dead letter . —This explanation gave occasion to some remarks by Mr . Disrakli , m which he aaBorted the substantial of what

      accuracy ho hod originally aaid , and taunted the Government with being obliged , bit by bit , to admit that accuracy . He also denied that tho convention waa a dead letter : it was still active , there being in truth no limitation to its ? w ^ - £ i ^*» Bar © N retorted with some warmth that Mr . Disraeli was Btriving in vain to cover an ignominious retreat . No such « treaty" as had been Bpoken of waa hi existence , as far as the Government knew ; and TJ , * V nly a S ? dwlth . ° * " instigated ' ' '< 71 viaod , " tho convention in question

      ^ XT pubuo jus-nan :. hJ ^ n ? A PIBR ™ that an addro 88 ** presented to ? nl ^ a-, ^ ayinethat 8 b 0 wU 1 b 0 P leased to take into consideration , as an urgent measure of administrative reform the formation of a separate and xZombo department for tho affaire of pubUo juatico .

      —HavhSonlarged on the necessity that exists for such an establishment , the motion was seconded by Mr . Collier . The Attobney-Genebal , on the part of the Government , accepted , with a slight modification , the resolution of Mr-Napier , but observed that the Government must not be understood as pledging itself to the creation of a separate Minister of Justice . He thought there was no need for such an officer ; indeed , it would be impossible to introduce such an . officer into the Cabinet while the Lord Chancellor sits there , and he believed it was quite within the power of the Lord Chancellor , if aided by a proper staff , to superintend the administration of justice . If the words " as an urgent measure of administrative reform" wexe omitted , he would not oppose the motion .

      Lord John Russell expressed great dissatisfaction with the speech of the Attorney-General . Ho did not believe the Lord Chancellor -would have sufficient time to perform the functions required of a Minister of Justice . — Mr . Keatin g held a different opinion . —Mr . Wigram , Mr . Ewabt , Mr . Montague Chambers , Mr . Wabren , and Mr . Locke King , were in favour of establishing a Ministry of Justice . — -Mr . Malins thought the whole thing , if attempted , would end in disappointment . —Sir Erskine Perry agreed with some remarks of Lord John Russell , to the effect that the Ministry of Justice should be associated with the Home Office . — Lord Palmerston spoke in favour of attaching the office of Minister of Justice to some office already existing . — Mr . Hadfibl-d thought it was high time that something was done . —Ultimately the motion was agreed to , the Attornet-General consenting to allow the -words he had proposed to strike out to remain .

      CHURCH-RATES . Sir William Cl . Ay moved for leave to bring in a bill for the abolition of church-rates , the bill to be limited to the total abolition of snch rates , and a provision saving existing legal obligations .

      GENERAL POLLOCK . Captain Leicester Vernon moved for copies of all correspondence relating to the removal of General Pollock from , the direction of the East'India Company . After eulogizing Sir George ' s military career during the Affghan war , and stating that , as a recognition of his services , he was in 1854 nominated one of the three Government directors of the East India Company , for two years , he complained that at the expiration of his term of office he was

      not reappointed , according to the full expectation of Sir Qeorge , upon the plea that a fresh appointment , and not -a reappointment , should fee the rule . —Mr . Vernon Smith said his answer to the motion was simply this —that there was no official correspondence as to the non-reappointment of Sir George Pollock , and that he never was removed from his office . —Mr . Disraeli thought that an attack had been made by Mr . Vemon Smith upon hia colleague . —Lord Palmekston denied this , and hoped the motion would not be placed on record . —Captain Ternon then withdrew the motion .

      MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS . Mr . Lloyd Davis obtained leave to bring in a bill to equalize the weights and measures of the United Kingdom . Lord Claud Hamilton moved an address for a copy of the treaty concluded by his Majesty the Emperor of Austria with the Sublime Poite , on the I 4 tli day of June , 1854 , relative to the military occupation of the Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia ; but , on the explanation of Lord Palmerston that the treaty had already been printed , ho withdrew it .

      The Chancellor op iiie Exchequer moved that the committee on the Bank Acts be a committee of secrecy , and do consist of twenty-two members . —The committee was nominated after some discussion .

      148 ¦'" ¦ . The Leader, [No, 360, Saturn

      148 ¦ ' " ¦ . THE LEADER , [ No , 360 , Saturn

      Election Intelligence. "We Have Had Seve...

      ELECTION INTELLIGENCE . "We have had several elections and re-elections this week . Tho Eight Hon . W . P . Cowper , having been appointed Vice-Prosident of tho Board of Education , was obliged to present himself again before his Hertford constituents , by whom he was ro-elected without opposition on Monday . In addressing tho electors , ho apoko against tho income-tax as at present levied , but added that he thought it possessed this excellency , that it enables Government to tax a man in proportion to tho amount of revenue he possesses .

      Tho Southampton election , caused by tho vacancy arising out of tho elevation of Sir Alexander Cockburn to the Chief Justiceship of tho Common Pleas , took place on Monday and Tuesday . Tho candidates wore—Sir Edward Butler ( Conservative ) , Mr . Andrews and Mr . Weguelin ( Liberals ) . For a short time on tho nomination day ( Monday ) , there waa a fourth candidate in the person of a Mr . Carden , "who appears to liavo been a kind of dummy put forward by two of Mr . Woguelin's committee men . But , finding that only twelve persons held up their hands for him , ho retired from tho contest . Tho hands wero decidedly in favour of Mr . Andrews , who was declared by tho Mayor to bo elected by that mode of popular suffrage . A poll was then demanded on behalf of Mr . Weguelin and of Sir Edward Butlor . Tho polling commenced at eight o'clock on Tuesday morning . Most of tho shops were closed ; a groat deal of excitement prevailed , and party fooling ; ran liigli , the

      Tvorthy Hampshireman discussing political n , ™ *• "" with much warmth and physical enerev Th O qu , e 8 tlon 3 tions of the contest , as noted in the . daily nan ^ ' interesting . Sir Edward Butler took the leal » I " ing , Mr . TV- eguelia having the second placf and £ Andrew the third . These relative positions if " maintained until tiro o ' clock , ' when a large numbeT ? voters from the docks ( several of whom had iuKri ' in the Colombo steamer ) flocked to the different mSis booths in support of Mr . Weguelin , and at halS two that gentleman for the first time headed Sir VaI * a Butler . At the close of the poll , the numbers as sul sequently verified , stood thus : — Weeueli ' n q « S " Butler , 962 ; Andrews , 726 . Mr . Weguelin hastw ' fore carried the day by a majority of 32 over Sir V *™ j fi /! «• /! Dlr Edward

      T » ,, ^ „„„ on- a „„« .. ¦* - _ »_ i .. Butler , and of 268 over Mr . Andrews . Almost ail t registered voters polled . One or tiro men were riw into custody during the day for personating voters and after the close of the poll some excitement was cauTrf by a couple of prize fighters from London , who drove i , n on the box of a cab bearing Sir Edward Butler ' s colours and , dismounting , commenced fighting their way throueh a crowd which was being addressed by Mr . Weguelin Two policemen , however , came up , collared one of the rascals , and carried him off to the station-house amidst the cheers of the mob .

      Sir Bichard Bethell , -who has accepted the office of Attorney-General , was , on Monday , re-elected , without opposition , for Aylesbury . In addressing the electors he said lie believ « d the present Government has a strong desire to effect all reasonable and safe reductions of expenditure ; but he reminded his audience that the vastness of our empire , and the importance of tie interests we have to defend , render a large out-going of money and therefore a large revenue , unavoidable ; and he asked " the men of Aylesbury" whether they-would risk

      the greatness of their country for the sake of a paltry economy . He also alluded to criminal jurisprudence and national education as subjects which would be discussed in Parliament this session ; and denied that , as rumour had alleged , there was any disagreement between himself and his colleague in the representation of the borough , Mr . Layard . Whenever there was a dissolution— which might be this year er the next—he trusted that himself and Mr . Layard would again be returned together .

      The nomination of the Greenwich candidates took place on Monday amidst a perfect tempest of popular demonstrations for and against each candidate . General Codrington could scarcely be heard , and Mr . ( or Colonel ) Sleigh was hardly more audible . He -was heard , however , to speak a few " words , in favour of Llbei & . principles , and then retired from the hustings , one of his enemies waving- over him a sheet of official paper , made to represent a protection from the Court ne ^ U / t ^ -ruptej ; where he has recently avpouieu . The choice of hands

      was in his favour ; but a poll was demanded for General Codrington , who was elected on the following day by a majority of 1 , 432 , the numbers being—Codrington , 2 , 975 ; Sleigh , 1 , 543 . Great was the excitement during the day , it being asserted by the popular party that the Government candidate ( General Codrington ) had put on " the screw ; " and , at the close of the proceedings , the defeated candidate was understood to intimate that he would oppose the return of his rival on the ground of bribery and corruption .

      Mi " . Clay , a Liberal , was on Wednesday returned for Hull , where a vacancy had occurred resulting from the elevation to the bench of Sir . W- H . Watson . He was the only candidate who came forward , though two or three gentlemen ( including Mr . Edwin James , Q . C . ) had previously issued addresses , believing that the fact of Mr . Clay having in 1852 been unseated for briber )' and corruption would render him inelligible—a suppositiou about which there afterwards appeared to be some doubt . The nomination at Hereford took place on Thursday . Mr . George Clive is the Liboral candidate ; Mr . Kcvill Davies stands for the Tories . Tho show of hands was in favour of Mr . Clive ; on which the Conservatives demanded a poll , ' the result of which wo have not yet received .

      Mr . Hope Johnston was on Thursday elected -without opposition for the county of Dumfries , vacant by the resignation of Lord Drumlanrig , consequent upon the doath of hia father , tho Marquis of Queensberry . Mr . Johnston ropresentcd the county previous to 1817 . On tho same day , tho Hon . Stunrt Wortley , her Majesty ' s Solicitor-General , was re-elected for the county of IJute , without opposition . Mr . Frcwcn has resigned tho contost for North L « icc 3-torahiro .

      The Manchester Education Sciikmk A Ruiiu...

      THE MANCHESTER EDUCATION SCIIKMk A ruiiuc meeting was held in tlio Free Trade IlnU i Manchester , on tho evening of Fiidny week , con vened by tho General Committee of Education in Manchwter and Salford . Mr . T . Ba / . ley , chairman of the commit ten . presided , and thcro wero present tho Itight Hon . Sir JS . Pnkington , Sir , T . P . Kay Shuttlworth , Alcssra . v > - lt . Wood , J . A . Nicholls , P . Maude , T . Clegg , w . Entwislo , tlao Kov . Canon Kiclison , and many otlicr gentlemen of influence . Tho Chairman having briefly opened tho proceedings by pointing out the immediate necessity which existed

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 14, 1857, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_14021857/page/4/