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    February 23, 1856.] THE LEADER. 2^!

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    IMPERIAL PARLIAMENTMonday, February ISth...

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    February 23, 1856.] The Leader. 2^!

    February 23 , 1856 . ] THE LEADER . 2 ^!

    Imperial Parliamentmonday, February Isth...

    IMPERIAL PARLIAMENTMonday , February ISth . THE WENSLEYDALE PEERAGE . FURTHER discussions on the legal beaiings of this case took place in the House of Lords , and Mr . Smith , clerk of the House , and Mr . Sharpe , were examined with respect to precedents . In the course of the discussion , the Lord Chancellor read a letter from Lord Wensleydale , declining to appear by counsel before the committee .- Further proceedings were adjourned to Friday at five o'clock .

    PIRACY IN THE CHINESE SEAS . In answer to tiie Earl of Albemarle , who presented a petition from the native and European merchants of the British settlements of Singapore , pi-aying for protection for their trade from piracy , Earl Granville was understood to say that orders had been sent to India to put smaller vessels on the station , but no reply had yet been received . Some time ago , application was made l > y the Admiralty for some assistance from the East India Company ' s navy , but it waa difficult fco > give it- at that time , in consequence of the transport of cavalry regiments from Egypt ; but already one steamer had been despatched for the purpose , and he was in hopes that by this time more efficient measures had been taken to suppress piracy in those seas .

    THE ATTACK ON THE REDAN . In the House of Commons , Mr . Peel , in answer to Mr . Layard , explained the circumstances connected with the brevet rank , published in the Gazette of the 2 nd November , particulai-ly as regarded the names of those officers who had distinguished themselves in the attack on the Redan . General Simpson had been requested by Lord Hardinge to , send distinct lists * but instead of doing- this he had sent lists supplied by commanding officers , leaving it to Lord Hardinge to make the selection . That selection had been made , and brevet rank conferred .

    COURT OF CHANCERY ( IRELAND ) BILL . On the second reading of this bill , Mr . S . Fitzgerald moved that it be read a second time that daysix months . The proposal to transfer the business of the Encumbered Estates Court to the Court of Chan eery was irnpracticable ; and , as many new offices were created by the : bill , its operation would be far from economical . —^ -The motion was seconded by Mr . Pollard Urquhabt ; supported by Mr . McCann , Mr . Whiteside ( who denounced the bill as the greatest job that had "been laid on the table of the House for a quarter o-f a century ) , Colonel DuStne , Mr . IVto Mahon , and MIiv Napier ; and opposed by the Solicitor-General fur Ireland , by Mr . Deasy , Mi-. Ellice ,

    Mr . Serjeant O'Brien , Mr . Bland , Mi-. French , and Sir Eiiskine Pbhry ; while Mr . George , Mr . Malins , Mi " . Cairns , Mr George Butt , and Mr . Kennedy , promised their sauctiou to the bill , provided that it , together with the other bills on the same subject , were referred to a select committee—a course which Mr . Patrick O'Bcue : * considered unnecessary , believing that a committee of the whole House was quite capable of dealing with the details . —In resisting the amendment , the Solicitor-General for Ireland contended that , with an additional staff , the Court of

    Chancery is quite capable of doing the extra work confided to it , and denied the chargo that had boon made of the Encumbered Estates Court being largely in arroar as regards its work . Ho had no objection to submit the bill to fcho scrutiny of a select committee , but lie could not consent to Bond to the samo oommitteo Mr . WhiLo .-nde ' a five bills , as iu many important rospocta they differ essentially from the bill under consideration . —This oonrae was objected to by Mr . DraiiARLi as uu' ^ ruoious . —Finally , the amendment having boon withdrawn , tho bill wad road a second timo , and referred ta n select committee .

    THIS KOOUSSIASTfOAL COMMISSION . On the motion of Sir George Grey , a committee was appointed to inquire into tho presont constitution of tho IGcclosinstioal Commiaaion iu England , into the working of tho nets by which its existence ) has been prolongod , mid into fcho expediency of consolidating with it tho Uliuroh Building Oomin ' iasion . Tuesday , February 10 th . THIS SUNKEN KUSSIAN SllU' 3 AT SEBASTOPOL . In fcho lloirsa oir Lords , in answer to aorao questions and observations by tho Earl of Havdwicko , Lord lANMunu said that nothing gallantry and soionoo could offoofc would bo loft undone to insure tho do-Htmofcion of what is abovo tho wntor iu Sevastopol ov beneath it . Affcw some routine business had boon gono through , the IJouso arliournod .

    i'nis Hiu'oia-. on' thk ohimuan oo ;\ tMissro > n ! m . B , In tho Houbb on- Commons , Lord Wm . Qraham having nuked tho Uudor Socrotary for War whether Sir John IM'NyiU ' a report wan couununioated to the authoi-itioB at the Horao Q-uarda ^ its arrival in tins country , and , if not , what * wore tho jr ' ojisona wbiol induced tho Government to withhold , it . Mj \ p replied that there were two reporttt . the fl v * $ i oT which

    was not communicated to Lord Hardinge , inasmuch as it concerned a branch of military administration entirely under the War Department—namely , the commissariat : the second report Lord Panmure had given directions should be published and distributed , which had been done . —Colonel North asked whether the published report contained everything which was supplied by the Commissioners , and , if it did not , whether the Government intended to publish what was withheld?—Mr . Peel remarked that there was no intention to present the report in any other shape than that in which it had appeared .

    BANK CHARTER ACT AND PRIVATE BANKS . In answer to Mr . Henry Baillie , the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated that , in the event of there being no objection on the part of the Bank of England , he should be prepared to bring in a bill for continuing the arrangement ( which would expire this year unless renewed ) by Which the Bank agreed to pay to those private banks which consented to withdraw their paper circulation one per cent , per annum upon the average issue of those banks in the three previous years , and to continue the same on the existing conditions .

    -MASTERS AND OPERATIVES . Mr . MacKinnon rouewed his annual motion for a Select Committee to consider the inconvenience folt from the want of equitable ijribunals whereby differences between masters and operatives might , be amicably adjusted ; and also to ascertain wh . ethev . the Conseils des Prud'homtnes in France had answered the purpose for which they weve established . He had , during the preceding week , met the representatives of 40 , 000 workmen—all very loyally disposed- — who were dissatisfied with the present state' of the law , which does not provide any fair and cheap

    tribunal to appeal to in cage of dispute . The establishment of such a tribunal might lead to the saving of much , money , and to the removal of difficulties be ^ tween employers and employed .- —Sir George Grey said he had no objection to . such an inquiry , provided it was undertaken with a full knowledge of the nature of the foreiga Conseils des Prud'kommes . He agreed with Mr . Mackinnon in thinking that tribunals such as he had suggested ought to be established ; but he protested against its being supposed that they ought to regulate Wages . —Mr . MACKrNiroiir repudiated any such intention ; and the motion was agreed to .

    THE STATUTE XAW . Mr . Locke King moved a resolution that there be prepai-ed , under the direction of tbe Clerk of the Parliaments / an edition of the statutes at large for the use of the irouse , omitting all such statutes and parts of statutes n > 3 are expired or have been expressly repealed ; and that , in the place of the statutes or parts of statutes repealed , there be inserted the titles of the statutes repealed , the numbers and abstracts of the clauses repealed , with a reference to the statutes by which they are repealed . The arguments in favour of his motion advanced by Mr . King were similar to those of Mr . Napier and Sir Fitzroy Kelly during last week iu connexion with their motions for legal reform .

    —The motion was seconded hy Mr . Ewaht . —The Attorney-General observed that there were many objections to accomplishing the work of legal reform in so mechanical and petty a manner , and therefore hoped theresolutionwould not be pressed . —A similar view was taken by Sir Fctzhoy Kelly ; and some observations , partly favourable to , and partly opposing , tho motion having been offered by Mr . Stuart 'Wortley , Mr . Watson , and Mr . George Butt , Mr . Robert Pitillimohe mover ) , by wny of amendment , the omission of the words " under tho direction of the Clerk of the Parliaments , " and " for tho use of this House , " which wns negatived , and , on a division , tho main question was thrown out by 1 G 4 to 03 .

    MINISTERS MONHY ( iRELANIl ) . Mr . Facujt inovod a resolution thafc tho House imunodiatoly rosolvo into a committee , to consiilor tho net 17 and 18 Victoria , c . 11 , with tho view of amending tho same , so fur as rospoets the tax thoroby enacted to he levied , in lieu of " Minister * ' Monoyj" in order that tho tux may bo wholly abolished . It had beou said tliafc tho arrangement was a " compromise- ;" but tho benefit was all on one side , and it was an aggravation of tho ovils suffered by tho eight towns in Ireland upon which tho tax was levied . The revenues of the Ecotasiastioal Comnii « s . ionora wore amply sufficient to moob tho demands of the tax . — Mr . Housmtan , on tho part of tho Government , said

    he would not object to Mr . Pagan bringing in a bill fur tho amondinent of Sir John Young's act , which lie believed had , in some respects , not worked M » U . sfacfcorily . —Mr . Naimkr , taunted tho Government with having ii fow dayB proviouHly stated that they had no moasuro ii » preparation , and with having no tod in a moan and unmanly fashion—an imputation which Lord PalwimaTON rcpollod .- —Lord John ltuBSHi . r , udviaod Mr . Fagau to bring in a bill ; to which Mr . Fugan con-BQntod . — . Lord Naas thought that tho Government had not fairly stated what wore its intentions ; Adrairal Jonks oppoeod the motion ; and Mr . Mjsagiuek , Mr . Maquxrei , and Mr . Sullivan , assorted tho necessity iW absolute repeal of Sir John Youug ' w Act . —

    After some observations by Mr . Black ( the member for Edinburgh ) in favour of repealing a similar Scotch tax , the annuity tax , leave was riven to bring m the bill . b COMPENSATION TO TENANTS ( IRELAND ) . Mr . George Henry Moore obtained leave to bring in a bill to provide for compensation to tenants for the improvement cf lands in Ireland . REFORMATORY SCHOOLS ( SCOTLAND ) . Mr . Dunlop obtained leave to bring in a bill to make further provision for rendering reformatory and industrial schools in Scotland more available for the benefit of vagrant children .

    Wednesday , February 2 Qth . MEDICAL PROFESSION BILL . On the order for the second reading of this bill in the House of Commons ^ Lord Robert * Grosvektor , while declining to oppose its further progress , objected to certain provisions the effect of which would be to exclude homoeopathic physicians , and to give a monopoly to the regular medical practitioners , though Dr . Forbes had said that the present state of medical science in this countiy requires complete revision , and other eminent doctors had tad doubts as to the efficacy of medicines . By this bill , however , every medical

    man must belong to some college , -which , could strike his name off the register , and , being thus struck off , he could not recover costs of medical attendance , nor could he hold an office in any hospital or infirmary . Securities should be given for the impartial exercise of the lai-ge powers accorded to the medical body . —Sir George Grey agreed that precaution should be tak' 2 ti to prevent arbitrary exclusion , and thought the bill needed consideration in committee . —After a fe-w remarks from Mr . Henley , Mr . Napier , and Mr . Headlajl , the bill was read a second time . The Drainage Acts Amendment Bill went through committee . TJiursdajj , February 21 st . BOARD OF INQUIRY INTO CEtMEAK AFFAIES . In the Hou . se of Lords , Lord Panmure made a staternent witli respect to the charges brought against certain officers in the Crimean Report . He said : — " I think it right to inform your Lordships that her Majesty , by the advice of her ministers , has appointed a Board of general officers to > inqiiire into certain matters which were adverted . to in the Report of the Commissioners sent to the Crimea for the purpose of making inquiries . This Board is to receive explanations on the subject of the conaplaints made respecting officers who have been adverted to in the report of the commission , and to inquire into all the circumstances 'Connected- therewith . "

    A discussion ensued , which was initiated by Lord Hardwicke saying that he thought the step should have been taken long ago by the Coinniaiider-in-Chief in reply to which , Lord Panmure made some statements similar to those given by Mi-. Peel in the House of Commons on Tuesday night , in answer to Lord W . Giuham . He stated that the Board now to be constituted would examine witnesses , and hear the defence of , the officers who are impugned . —Earl Ghey thought tho Government was committing itself to a-very unusual course , and that the appointment of the Board was an i implied censure on the Crimean

    Commissioners . The original mistake was in not allowing Lords ^ Lucoai and Cardiagn , Sir Hi-chard Airey , & c , in opp in unity of defendiug tte' . uselves . — Lord Brougham expressed similar views , and held that the Court of Inquiry ordered after tho Convention of Cintra ( which Earl Grauvillo quoted as a precedent ) was no precedent , as in that case there had been no previous inquiry . —In the Houso of Coramous a similar ntntemont was made by L rd Palmeits'rr jt , who added tliafc tiio officers forming tho Buurd would not include any who had served in tho Crimea , and that tho proceedings would not bo opon to the public .

    THE WAI 1 IDEI'AHTMIRNXAXI ) TIIK HOUSE C 7 U . UIDS . The Earl of Dkuuy inovod lor the production ol any papers limiting or defining tho rospoetivo dutios and poweiw of fcho Seorotury of Sfcafco I ' uv War uud tho Cominandor-in-Chiof' of the Army . The Monition and duties of ihoao furotionaricfl wore very difficult to b uudorstoud ; but it would « e © iu that , in unju of war , the authority of the Secretary for tho War Department was such a 3 almost to make him a dictator uvov hia colleagues . Tho rolntionrtliii ) of his duties to those " ' of tho Oominimdor-m-Cluof was m vaguo and contradictory as bol ' oro tho rocout changes—a

    atato of thinga whiuh i « very likoly to result in collision between tho two dopartmuntH , and a oonaequont puralywirt of tho public Hurviuu , Ho wiialiod . to kuow wholhor 1 ho Into alterations had left to the Commandor-iu-Chwf a full control ovovtho discipline patronage , and promotion of the army ? whether th < biisfciMval ul' honours and distinctions , tho appoint ments to foreign garrisons , and the movement o troops , wain with tho Oouuttcuuler-in-Ohief or witl tho Socrotary for War if whether honours uwiurdod i > tho Held , on tho voooimnondatiun of the oommande ou . tho ispot , ami miuotiouod by tho Cominundor-in

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 23, 1856, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_23021856/page/3/