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    676 THE LEAP Eft. [No. 434, JuijY 17, 18...

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    Tffe Emhassy House At Pauis. Qn Tlte'mbt...

    passed before the committee was altogether incorrect . There was another matter to vrlrich he wished to call attention . The noble Lord had stated that the House of Commons was the supreme power in this country . Now , in that opinion he ( Lord John Manners ) did not concur , and he hoped the House would not let it go to the country that they entertained such an opinion . — Lord John Russell begged to say that the House , being elected by the people , and having the confidence of the people , possesses a power in the constitution which no other power could resist . That was a doctrine which he had always held . ( C % e « rs . )—The motion for adjournment was then -withdrawn .

    THE NATIONAL GAIJJERY . On the report from , the last Committee of Supply being brought up , Lord Elcho called attention to the report of the commission on the National Gallery , and moved as an amendment that the vote be rednced by 30 OI ., being the amount of salary for the " travelling agent . "—The Chancellor of the Exchkqueu opposed the amendment , on the ground that the whole question relating to the salaries and duties of the officials connected with the National Gallery is now undergoing investigation . —After some discussion , the House divided , when the amendment was carried by 128 to 110 . The vote , in its reduced amount , was then agreed to . AtTERATIOS OF THE CHUKCH SERVICES .

    On the motion for going into Committee of Supply , Mr . Cowper moved an address praying that her Majesty would take into consideration the proclamation of the first year of her reign , commanding that forms of prayer and service ma « le for the 5 th day of November , the 30 th day of January , and the 29 th day of May should be annexed to the Book of Common Prayer of the United Church of England and Ireland , to be used yearly on the aaiddays , with a view to the discontinuance of those forms o-f prayer and service . The Upper House had already addressed the Crown on this subject , Vhicli he considered of St yph importance as to require the concurrence of the Commons also by a similar proceeding .- —Mr . "Walpole gave his hearty consent to the conclusions enunciated in the resolution proposed by the hon . member , -which was then put and carried unanimouslv .

    B ATTERSE A-P AUK . The motion for going into Committee of Supply having been renewed , Mr . Axcock called attention to the expediency of offering the surplus land in Battersea-park , extending to about one hundred acres , for sale by auction , under a reserved price of 284 , 730 ? ., 9 s . 3 d ., in order to refund the Government the loans advanced on account of the park , the Chelsea new bridge , and Chelsea embankment . By selling this surplus land , the loan of public money might be repaid and the toll on the new bridge abolished . —Sir John Shelley took the opportunity of appealing to the Government on the subject of cleansing the Serpentine , the stench from which is an intolerable nuisance . —Lord John Manners said he had

    made a representation to tne Metropolitan Board of " Works , Who informed him that the one hundred acres at Battersea would be drained in the general drainage of the metropolis , and that tlum the land would bo sold ; but the money arising from the sale would be required to defray the liabilities for Battersea-park , and would probably not leave a surplus available for the reduction of the tolls on the bridge . As to the Serpentine , he could not agree as to the foetid state of that water ; indeed , he was informed that , since the application of lime , visitors to Hyde-park luid been seen drinking the water out of the palms of tlieir hands—a circumstance certainly unknown for very many years . But , at all events , until the northern sewer question had been satisfactorily answered , it wais not the intention of Government to operate on the Serpentine in any other way than by the application of a further quantity of lime .

    THE STAMPACf AND KIKE IXSUKANCES . Mr . Hadfield called attention to the fact that fire insurances are taxed to the extent of two hundred per cent , on the premiums . Ho naked -whether it was the intention of the Government to revise the Stamp Act generally , and particularly to reduce the duty on insurances . —Mr . Hamilton could only any that it was the intention of Government to revise the Stamp Act . . The House then went into Committee oi ? Surpr . Y , when several voto 3 belonging to tlio Civil Service and Miscellaneous Estimates were agreed to , after the usual amount of desultory discussion . The last voto of Supply for the year was passed before the proceedings closed . The orders for the second reading of the Poor Hkmovav . Law Amendment ? ¦ Bilx ,, and of the Paui'isu Lunatics Bill , wore discharged . The House adjourned at twenty minutes to two .

    Wednesday , July 14 th . MISOKLLAN KOU 8 BUSINESS . No business of note was performed in the Housic or ; Commons on this day , and the Lorda , as usual ' on ] Wedneadays , did not sit . The Commons were occupied in committee for some time with thedetaila of the Reformatory Sohools ( . Iheland ) BiLfc . —Mr . Adams withdrew the Leases andSaxks 6 b- Skttled Estates Act Amknd-Mtarr Bill . —The Report of the Committee of Supply vra » \ brought up and agreed to . —The House then went

    into committee upon the remaining Civil Service Estimates and Civil Contingencies , when certain vote 3 were agreed to , after discussion .- —The Local Government Bilt * was read a third time and passed ; and tlie House adjourned at a quarter-past four o ' clock . Thursday , July \ 5 lh . GOVERNMENT OP INDIA BILL . In the House of Lords , on the order for the secon d reading of this bill , the Earl of Shaftesbury presented a petition from the East India Company , praying to be heard by counsel against the measure . He could not concur in the opinions of the petitioners ; but he thought so Important a body as the Company should have an opportunity of putting on record its final appeal to tie Legislature .

    The Earl of Debbv , in moving the second reading , observed that the actual government of India must for the most part be carried-on in India itself . The measure touched on none of the internal questions of India : the less Parliament interfered with those questions tlie better . During the whole of his experience , he had never known a bill treated by the House of Commons with more patience , greater temper , and a more entire absence of party or acrimonious feeling . ( Hear , hear . ) The result was that a bill was sent up to that House which had not been carried by a narrow majority , so as to depend on this or that political party , but one which was the work to a great extent of the House of Commons itself . "With respect to the petition of the

    East India Company , he did not think they had any claim to Le heard by counsel before their Lordships ' House . " He begged also to advert to another petition which had been presented to their Lordships with regard to the effect of this measure on the security for the Indian debt . All he could say was , that the clause with reference to the Indian debt was the same as the clause contained in the bill of the late Government , and introduced , lie presumed , in accordance with the opinion of the learned gentleman who now gives aii opinion that the protection is insufficient ,-though' it was probable that , as Attorney-General of the late Government , he drew up the clause himself . ( Hear , hear . * ) If , however , it should appear that the security of the creditors

    ¦ would be diminished by this bill , the Government would be prepared to introduce a provision to confirm their security . It was objected that the clause in relation to the employment of the Indian troops would interfere with the exercise of the indisputable prerogative of the Crown to make war and peace . Although no prerogative of the- Crown is more indisputable than that referred to , the constitution provides a check upon its exercise by causing the Crowii to come to . Parliament fur the means of paying the troops . But , with regard to the employment of Indian troops , no such Parliamentary control could be exercised , and , though there was no fear of such an occurrence under the present Sovereign , there might be a monarch who would employ the whole

    army—a gratuitous truckling to a temporary feeling which he could hardly have supposed any Government would have been guilty of ; it did not put' an end to to double Government , nor securo one officer solulv sponsible to Parliament ; and , by a clause inserted Tt the last minute , the control in the Indian revenues U given to the Council , so that that body is constituted a Parliament . Still , by substituting the Queen ' s nnne for that of the Company , by giving the Minister of btate the initiative in important affairs , and by short ening and simplifying the mode of conducting business " some practicable advantages had been gained by the bill ' " The troops employed beyond the frontier should not be paid out of the revenues of India . TJie cost of the to China

    expedition was paid merely on account By the Indian Government , and the money was repaid to them From the impression made on bis mind by the accounts received during the last month , he never had looked forward to the future of India with more anxiety than he tlid at tlie present moment . It -would be necessary to send to that country , for operations at the commencement of the cold season , a very large force ; but an increased strength to the army would not enable them to establish peace , unless their r . oliey was intelligible and acceptable to the people . { Hear , hear . ) On her Majesty ' s directly assuming tlie Government of India , they should reassure the people of that country with respect to ' tLie protection of their religion and rights . The proclamation must not be framed

    to please the House of Goiniiioais , or to please people on the hustings , but must be addressed to the princes mnl people of India . We must govern India for the benefit of its population , and not to please a party here . { Hear , hear . ) That could not be effected unless we have iit the head of the Government a man possessed of the confidence of natives and Europeans , and capable of conducting military operations—u man who by the weight of his authority would compel all subordinate officers under him to co-operate hi his policy and carry his views , into effect . " ¦

    The Marquis of Clankicaude took exception to some parts of the bill , but deferred tha discussion of his objections until the next day in committee . —Tlie -Earl of Aluemahle directed attention to the financial part of the subject , and prophesied that , the day was not distant wlieii it would become an Imperial question . He . regretted that no promise was given regarding the adoption of that economic system of administration wliich is imperatively-demanded * by the deplorable condition of the Indian finances . —The Earl of DiiititY briefly replied , and the bill . was rend a second time .

    The Uni-visusjties asd Coj . lkgk Estatks Bii / l ; the CoNiaitaiATiox of Exiicmwts , & c , Hiia , ; the Stanuoi' 12 ani > "VValsisoi . iam Kkctouiks Bill ; the Eccli :-siAstiual CoitroiUTXoJJs' Licasing Bill , ; and the EncOMBiuiED Estates ( Wkst Indies ) Asikndm ' unt lin . i ., were respectively read a third time , ami passed . Tlie House adjourned at live minutes to eiglit o ' clock . The IIousk oi ' ' Commons , at the morning sitting , went into Convtmttes of Supply upon the Militia Kstimates and the Supplementary Army intimates , wliich were agreed to , after discussion , as well as tlie re-committed vote for the Registrar of Sasine-s ( Scotland ) , ami 20 , 000 / . foi' defraying the expense of the ¦ Wellington monument .

    army of India to carry on a war unsnrictioned by Parliament . He intended , on the clause referred to , to move an amendment that it should not be competent , except for the purpose of repelling an actual invasion , to employ the revenues of India without the consent of Parliament to defray the expense of any military operation beyond the limits of their Indian empire . As regsirded the clause having reference to the admission of persons to the civil service , it was hid intention to propose the omission of words which would render it necessaxy to recomm end-candidates in the order of their proficiency on competitive examination . He would nl .-so propose that the arrangements should be subject to such regulations

    COUUUPT PltACTIOES rUKVKNTlOX ACT . On the motion for going into Committee , Mr . Yic .-. xos Smith suggested Unit the Government should nionly pass n continuance bill this ses-sion , and not , as proposal , pass a measure containing amendments of the pavctit law . —Mr . YVAr . ror , ! . ; considered that it was necessary to in trod lire amendment ? , defining who should be coiisidoiv-il a candidate ; regulating tlio expenses of conveying voters to ( lie poll ; an 1 rearranging the remuneration of the auditors . It was proposed thnt the foe of 10 / .,

    as might from time to time be issued by the Secretary of State with the approval of the Crown , and to bu laid on the table of both Houses of Parliament . " . (// car , Jieur ) Having- referred in detail to the main provisions of the bill , the noble Earl stated that , when it should become law , her Majesty would be advised to issue n commission to institute an inquiry into all the matters connected with the reorganization of their future force in India , the proportion of Europoans , the mode of relieving ; them consistent with their military system , the conditions on which they shall serve , and the condition on whiuli tho native army shall bo established ; and ho felt assured that her Majesty would issue such commission .

    nlloweil to the auditor by Act of Parliament , should cover his remuneration wlicro the expense incurred amounted to 200 / ., and that he should have u per ' -outage on any further outlay . Ho submitted tliat they should go intu committee nti'i consider the nniendinonN Subsequently , ho stntdl that the Government vouM probably introduce u permanent bill next year . — After some further discussion , the House went into committee , and continued to discuss tlie various clauses till tlio end of tlie sitting .

    Earl GRANVIL . I . B complimented Lord Derby on hU lucid statement , and gave u general approval of tlio measure ; but reminded the House thnt the bill was mainly the saino as that of the late Government . Time would have been gained if that bill hud been at once adopted , and tho several amendments introduced . The three successive measures , and the discussion of tho resolutions , had wearied the Huuso of Commons ; ami ; this exhaustion , together with the stutoof the Thames , had induced it to accept any proposition from any quarter . Ho doubted- whether tho bill could now reccivo tho attention its provision * required . Tlio whole plan could only be considered an experiment , nnd would shortly demand revision ; but , in tho menu while ( though objecting to certain parts ) , ho would give tho bill his cordial support .

    THIS I ATA I ., KXW .. 0 SION IN T 1 IK Wi ; . STMINsTUU-KOAl > . In the evening , Mr . Howykii called attention to tln > recent accident over tho water , by which a largo number of persons were seriously injured " ; null inquired whether Government intended to introduce a bill to prevent i \ w manufacture of dangerous Hubstnnccs within a coWjiiii ilistanuo from inhabited Iioumch . —Mr . Secretary Wai .-POLB ropliert that lie would give ilia subject considers tion .

    TIIK UNUMHI 1 CONSUt- AT NA 1 M . KH . In answer to Mr . Dalomunii , Mr . Skymouk Viv / .-OuiiAi . o Haid that the Government had placed Mr . H « rlmr in a position to reccivu thes tlmtiks ot the Saruinini ) Clovernnient , which resulted in his actually roi . 'i'iviiig ' personal thanks of the King . ( Jlear , hear . ) Thu Government had expressed lo Mr . B-iubnr thuir marked approbation of his services . They hn . il also nicoinniciulcu hor Majesty to appoint him to u post of double Uie value of his present appointment .

    Tho Earl of Ellknuorouqii said that , even had lie still been a Minister of the Crown , lie could not have supported this bill . Tlio measure excluded tho popular element of election from tho constitution of tho Council ; it introduced tho principle of competitive examination into tho corps of Engineers and Artillery of tho Indian

    676 The Leap Eft. [No. 434, Juijy 17, 18...

    676 THE LEAP Eft . [ No . 434 , JuijY 17 , 1858 .

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), July 17, 1858, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_17071858/page/4/