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    Xo. 422, April 24, 1858.] JL_ U E LEADER...

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    THE INTERNATIONAL HOTEL. It is a mortify...

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    Imperial Parliameintt ^^ Monday, April 1...

    he was engaged ia the preparation of a bill for harmonizing the law throughout Great Britain on the subject of probates and letters of administration . CHELSEA NEW BRIDGE : AND THE MARBLE ARCH . In reply to questions from Sir John Shelley , Lord John Manners said a bill was being prepared for meeting the requirements of the public with respect to C helsea Bridge , and that he had given up all intention of putting a clock on the Marble Arch , from which the paper face would be taken down .

    DECIMAL COINAGE . Replying to Mr . Bland , the Chancellor of the Exchequer said it was not in his power to hold out any prospect of a final report on decimal coinage . PENNY STAMPS . Sir Edward Buxton asked what number of penny bill and receipt stamps were issued during the last financial year . —The Chancellor of the Exchequer said the subject was one for a motion of returns , rather than a question to a Minister . He was , however , prepared to answer the question , by stating that the number of bill stamps was 660 , 000 ; receipt and check stamps , about 73 , 000 , 000 . ( Laughter . ')

    DIPLOMATIC SALARIES AND PENSIONS . Mr . Wise moved " That it is the opinion of the House that the diplomatic salaries and pensions , now charged upon the Consolidated Fund , should be brought under the more immediate view and control of Parliament , and be paid out of a vote , annually provided by the House of Commons for the purpose . " Disclaiming any intention of making personal attacks , Mr . Wise denounced the extravagance and uselcssness of our diplomatic system . The expenses of the service are no less annually than 320 , 258 £ , while last year they amounted to 483 , 000 J . " The Paris embassy house had cost the country 87 , 000 ? ., and last year we were told that 20 , OOOJ . were required for repairs . The house at Constantinople cost 90 , 000 / . for its completion , though the estimate was 73 . 000 J . At various places , the nation furnishes ambassadors with a service of plate ; and this

    is not generally known . The extraordinary expenses ire gradually " increasing , and last year they were 37 , 500 ? . Independently of salaries , these expenses luring the last ten years amounted to 208 , 000 / . We lad also spent upwards of 200 , 000 ? . since the reign of Seorge IV . in foreign chapels . Chaplains' salaries imount to 1500 ? . a year . In the East , 6000 ? . a year ire spent on dragomans . France , Prussia , Austria , uid Russia take care to educate their own people for the work of translators and interpreters ; England alone bas to depend on the fidelity of foreign interpreters . " Degrees should be established in our Universities for acquaintance with modern languages ; and the Oriental tongues , in particular , are very important . It would be well , also , to adopt the French system of pupil consulships , by which a man might be trained to the performance of the higher duties .

    Mr . Seymour Fitzgerald admitted that the subject was one of great importance ; but he thought it was undesirable to introduce the change contemplated by the motion—that of handing the charges in question over to the annual estimates . All the instances that had been complained of as extravagance had occurred ia the items which are now voted annually , while proper economy characterizes the expenditure chargeable on the Consolidated Fund . It was not correct to say that the diplomatic service is a refuge for incompetent patricians ; and nothing would be more invidious than to bring the diplomatic service under the control of Parliament . If we had had a diplomatic representative at Naple ? , the whole course of events respecting the Cagliari would have been different .

    _ . Mr . White said that by adopting the resolution they would bring the consular service under the purview of Parliament ; and therefore ho wns in fnvour of it . —Mr . IIorsman observed that under the present system the Uouso is in a state of ignorance of our foreign affairs , inconsistent with tho principles of constitutional government , and that Mr . Fitzgerald had not relisted tho motion upon constitutional grounds ? — ¦ L ( ml Palmkrston said tho motion tended to reverse a dojision deliberately come to as to tho inodo in which liplomatio salaries and pensions should bo paid . Secret Jiplomacy , as it was called , might bo defended on conititutioual grounds . Parliament must either placo

    eonlldenco in the Minister of tho Crown ia regard to our foreign relations , or np ' point tt standing committee of liploinntiu relations ; und tho latter alterimlivo ho regarded as neither constitutional nor desirable . " Thero lould not possibly bo a \ vor « a engine for diplomatic ; rnnsuctioiiH than a popular assembly . Nothing could trovent them from getting Into ropoatod diflluiiltjurt and iliHputes . They had an instance or tliat in tlio ease of I'Vanco and America . A f | iio » tloi > arose between tho t ^' olj _ \ w 7 im ? fft , ^ iombliea on both hides of tin' Atlantic ; and if it had not l > cun for very oiimenl exertions on llio part of friendly I ' oworathat question must have produced u vory

    , icrious rupture between tho two countries . Without going further baok , if there was tit that moment ' u popular assembly in Franoo , exorcising the power of discussing public alluus , tho relations between England and Franco might now bo

    very different from those which happily exist . As observed by Mr . Horsman , it was impossiblethat diplomatic transactions could be made public while they were in progress , and , when the result was come to , it was made known to . Parliament . If Parliament thought it right to call upon the Government to account for its conduct , why then , according to constitutional usage , Parliament could interfere and call upon the Minister to answer for the transactions . If there was an annual debate on the salaries of our diplomatic agents , it would do those agents great harm at foreign courts , where their influence would thus be lowered . —Mr . Kinnaird declared that neither the Government nor Lord Palmerston had answered the hon . gentleman who had brought forward the motion . —Lord John Russell said he was content with the present mode of paying their diplomatic agents . At the same time , he thought there ought to be a general division of the diplomatic service . ( Hear . ) He was against the system of unpaid attaches ; and he thought that diplomatic papers ought to be more frequently submitted to the House . The House then divided , when there appeared—For the motion 114 Against ' it 142 Majority against 28 DESTITUTION IN DONEGAL . Mr . Bagwell moved for a Select Committee to in- " quire into the destitution in Donegal , the northern part of which county , he said , is a wild , mountainous district , in which there is a great deal of very bad land . The people , according to the evidence of Lord G . Hill , are quiet and inoffensive , but in a rude state of society . He read statements showing their miserable condition , which , he contended , called for inquiry . —Sir E . Hayes referred to ah orticial report , which showed that the representations of certain Roman Catholic priests , upon which Mr * Bagwell had relied , were without foundation . He did not object to a fair inquiry . —Mr . Macartney protested against the motion . The inquiry , in his opinion , could end in no good . —Mr . PsterO'Brien supported the motion . — Lord Naas read various statements , including evidence taken by Mr . Hamilton , who was directed by the late Government to make inquiry into this matter , contradicting and refuting the representations of the Roman Catholic clergymen . He did not oppose the motion for a committee , and hoped the inquiry would elicit the truth . —After some further debate , the House divided , and the motion was carried by 147 to 111 . FIRST READINGS . Mr . Locke King obtained leave to bring in a bill to abolish the property qualification of members of Parliament . The Lord-Advocate obtained leave to bring in a bill to make provision for the better government and discipline of the Universities of Scotland , and improving and regulating the course of study therein ; and for the union of the two Universities and Colleges of Aberdeen . Lord Godericii obtained leave to bring in a bill to provide for the general registration of partnerships , the object of which is to require that all persons engaged in trade , in partnership , or under the style of a company , not within the provisions of the Joint-Stock Companies Act , or carrying on trade under any other name than their own , should give the public exact information who and what they are . Mr . Addkrlev obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the Public Health Act , 1848 . This , he said , would not be a mere Continuance Bill ; not repealing the existing law , it would decentralize the whole system by establishing local boards , embodying the new provisions with tho law of 1848 . These bills were rend a first time . Tho consideration of Lord Palmiorston ' s India Hill was postponed for a fortnight . CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ACT AMENDMENT HJLL . Lord Raynham moved the second reading of this kin Mr Secretary Walpolk opposed the bill , on tho ground that tho Act 12 and 18 Vic . cap . 02 , . which tho first clause proposed to repeal , meets all tho objects for which it wan intended , and that tho noblo Lords measure would not accomplish tho objects which he had in view . He moved that it bo read a second time that day six months . —Mr . Ayhton hoped that Lord ttaynham would not press his measure , which , while protecting nnimala , inflicted cruelty , in the shape of pains and penalties , upon man . —Sir J . East also opposed tho bill , which was rejected without a division . CI 1 UKC 1 I-UATK 8 ABOLITION HILL . Tho nujourned debate upon this bill was postponed . — Mr . Avicton guvo notice that the hou . Member for TavUtoek ( , S \ v '' Treluwiuiy ) would , on the following day , ask tho Chancellor of the Exchequer wbother ibLSWiiiiiiii ! *!! _ af » ngoiuoiita for a dny upon which tho division eoiilil bo fiflfo " n . •'" ' "' " ' ¦ " ¦ ¦ " ¦¦• ' ¦ - — ' — — - > - IMUCWCHU'TION ( iUKLAND ) HILL . This bill was withdrawn , Mr . Wiutksidk undertaking to deal with tho subjeut at a future period . WAVS AND MEANS . The report of tho committee was brought up und agreed to .

    boydell ' s traction engine . On the motion of Mr . Garnet , there was ordered a copy of the report upon the capabilities of Boydell's traction engine , made by Sir Frederick Abbott , last February , to the Hon . East India Company . EXCHEQUER BILLS . The Exchequer Bills ( 20 , 911 , 500 ? . ) Bill was read a second time .

    CHANCERY AMENDMENT BILL . Upon the motion for the second reading , Sir Richard Bethell said , he thought the bill was open to certain , amendments as to the proceedings with respect to assess damages . He should be happy to co-operate with his hon . and learned friend in any step he might take to render the bill a perfect measure . — The SoucrroBGeneral proposed to take the second reading then , and afterwards to go into committee pro fornid , with a view to the introduction of certain amendments which had been suggested . —The bill was then read a second time . The House adjourned at half-past twelve o ' clock .

    Xo. 422, April 24, 1858.] Jl_ U E Leader...

    Xo . 422 , April 24 , 1858 . ] JL _ U E LEADER . <____

    The International Hotel. It Is A Mortify...

    THE INTERNATIONAL HOTEL . It is a mortifying fact that , with our wonderfully developed powers of locomotion , with our constantly increasing intercourse all over the world , we are , in respect of accommodation for travellers , far behind other countries . Excepting only the Great Western Hotel , we have no establishments of the sort that can for a moment challenge comparison with the magnificent " travellers' homes" Paris , New York , Boston , and New Orleans . It is almost a national reproach . We go to all those places , upon business or pleasure , and we return full of admiration at these perfections of hotelconvenience ; when foreigners return to their own countries we know that it is impossible for them to express any admiration for our formal , dear , and comfortless hotels .

    But we have made one move towards a better state of things , and we are about to make a second and more important move . The first was an experiment , the success of which has put our power to realize a first-rate hotel beyond doubt or question ; the second will amply confirm our confidence , and go far to redeem us from the mortifying consequences of our old ill-reputation . The scheme of a vast international hotel , which for perfection of detail shall be entitled to comparison with the very grandest of the French and American establishments , has just been published . The promoters of this scheme frankly state that the entire success of the Great Western Hotel has incited them to attempt to supply a remedy for a great public want ; their plan is certainly one of high promise , and , as we believe t practicability . A site has been chosen which seems to embrace every possible advantage . It is intended to occupy the plot of ground on which the Lyceum Theatre now stands . The hotel building is to have " a frontage of 800 feet , abutting on the Strand , Burleigh-street , Exeter-street , and Wellington-street , " the ground story being devoted to first-class shops . The hotel accommodation will provide 230 sleeping-rooms , with a proportionate number of private sitting-rooms . There will be a daily table d'hote in a magnificent salle-a-manger ; coffee and rea lingrooms for ladies and gentlemen ; billiard , smoking , and chess-rooms . In short , the prospectus of the projectors tells us , " this hotel will unite all the comforts and conveniences of internal arrangement , aa at the best clubs in London , and in the leading hotels on the Continent and in America . " Tho want of such an hotel as is here promised is pressing . Money is cheap , and even if tho profits should fall short of tho expectations of those who have made the estimate , they must necessarily be handsome j while the nature of the property would offer an excellent permanent and indestructible security to tho shareholder . If tho Great Western Hotel is so entirely successful that it is always full , there can bo Iittlo ground to fear that an hotel even more complete in its organization , ond having infinite local advantages , will not meet with ample patronage . Its central position will at once point it out to the traveller as tiie lodging most convenient in point of situation . From its doors ho will bo within a shilling rido of all the railways but two , tho Great Western , and tho Eastern Counties . All tho public offices , and all the leading places of amusement , will lie within a circuit of about a mile of his resting-place ; ho will bo but a few minutes from tho two groat centres of business and pleasure—tho ' City , and tho West End . But there are other considerations u «> loss bearing upon tho traveller ' s convenience . In tho International Hotel , aw in tho ( iro / it Western Hotel , there will be u uxed tariff of charts , and tho promoter pledgo themselves that tliesc shall bo moderate ; tho tmvollor will linvo at his command uvory luxury and convenience , and ut the aamo limo will be enabkd to rogulsito liU expomjus to a ^ MMiifrMi-rmMUiM ^ lttfU ^ barbarTuiH extortions and absurdity of The I ' -ngliSli hotelsyutom , which wo havo so long grumbled at and borne . Thin , too , is a convenience that appeals to a much larger class Hum tho traveller properly so callod ; and a wellconducted hotel and tavorn should indeed provide , not only for tho traveller , but for tho nuineroue class of tho traveller ' s frionds , and tho BtlU more numerous « 1 » 89 of

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), April 24, 1858, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_24041858/page/5/