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    -., 880 THE LEADER, [No. 488. " July30, ...

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    IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. Monday, Jtdy 25. LO...

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  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

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    -., 880 The Leader, [No. 488. " July30, ...

    -., 880 THE LEADER , [ No . 488 . " July 30 , 1859 .

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    Imperial Parliament. Monday, Jtdy 25. Lo...

    IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT . Monday , Jtdy 25 . LORD LTNDIIURST AND THE NATIONAL DEFENCES . In the House of Lords Lord Ltndhcest repelled the charges which had been made against Mm by Mr . Bright , in reference to the remarks he had made on the national defences . As to the charge of age , and of being an old peer , he pleaded guilty , and at the same time he duly acknowledgedthe power of the sarcasm , so pointed , so keen , so bitter , and so creditable to the taste and talents of the hon . member who had made so extraordinary a discovery . As to the charge of making remarks calculatedto nation

    ^ wound the susceptibility of a neighbouring , nothing was further from his intention , which was only to arouse this country to the necessity of putting its defences in an efficient state . My lords , said the veteran statesman , it is very well for Englishmen in private life , when they are smitten upon one cheek , to turn the other cheek to the smiter . But that is not my feeling , and least of all ought it to be the feeling of a great and powerful nation . I might cite a jmssage from an Athenian oratorwhich I think somewhat in point . He says , in substance : " Nations build large fortresses , and lay out great sums of money for that purpose , but there is

    one common , bulwark which every prudent man will take care to maintain . It is the great security of all nations , particularly of free States , against foreign despotic power . " He goes on to ask , " What is this ? " The answer he gives is , " Distrust , distrust . Be mindful of that , adhere to it , and you will be free from almost every calamity . " The question I have to put to the noble duke is this— -1 am sure the noble duke will not think it requires any previous notice—whether he is aware that the JFrench are arming their fleet on the other side of the Channel with rifled cannon ? I put this question because , from the reports I have heard , it would appear that

    the rifled cannon we are preparing will not extend to above 10 O in the present year and 200 in the following year , Whereas it is said the French rifle cannon are manufactured with such rapidity that they will be able to arm their fleet in that mode long before we can make use , to any extent , of the rifled cannon of Sir W . Armstrong . —The Duke of Somerset had heard that the French fleet was being provided with rifled cannon , and admitted that the rifled cannon for the armament of our fleet would not be ready for some time . He did not think it expedient the present time to enter into a discussion of what was being done in our arsenals and dockyards . NATIONAL EDUCATION . Lord Brougham , in calling the attention of the House to the state of national education , gave a sketch of the progress made in this important subject during the last forty years . He would prefer education even under the Pope of Bpme to no education at all . He urged the necessity of providing well-educated school mistresses , as the well-being of so large a class of the female population depended upon them . He concluded by proposing that the Committee of the Privy Council should inspect the middle-class schools throughout the country . —The Bishop of Lincoln thought the plan of inspecting middle-class schools would be productive of much advantage . —lord Granvjlxe was very unwilling , considering tn © enormous amount of work already imposed on the Committee of the Privy Council , to place upon them the additional labour of inspecting Xniddle-class schools . Their lordships adjourned at half-past eix . The Housb of Commons went into a Committee of Supply upon thd Civil Service Estimates and Civil Contingencies , which wore discussed during the morning sitting . DKJTENCE OIF THE COLONIES . , In the evening on the motion for goiixg into committee of supply , Mr . Adderlet called attention to the military defences of the colonies , and to the source whence those defences are supplied . The hon . member contended that the colonies did not provide their ftwr proportion of the expense , either in men or money , required for their defence . Almost every dependency relied almost exclusively upon the mother

    were ill-paid and not well treated . —The vote was agreed to , after further debate . A variety of measures were advanced a stage , and the House adjourned at fifteen minutes past one . Tuesday , July 26 . -

    SPIRITUAL DESTITUTION . In . the House of Lords the Bishop of London , after presenting several petitions on the subject , called attention to the spiritual destitution existing in several localities , and especially in the large commercial and manufacturing towns and districts in England and Wales . He complained of the inadequacy of the accommodation provided by the Ecclesiastical Commission in places where large funds were placed in their hands , and suggested that unnecessary difficulties were thrown in the way of obtaining sites for churches by the law of mortmain . He was aware that the officials , of the Ecclesiastical Commission had a strong objection to any alteration in the present law , but he must confess that he thought that they would have no cause of complaint against the bill , which was , he believed , to be introtime he not

    duced . At the same could pass over without praise the efforts made by private individuals toextendthe blessings of the Gospel by building churches . —Lord Chichester and Lord Ebury made a few remarks . —The Bishop of Oxford hoped that any bill which was passed would provide for the extension of local claims . There was no doubt that the places on which much of the property under the Ecclesiastical Commissioners was situated would be able to provide a handsome surplus after they had looked to their own wants . He pressed this question on the House as one of the greatest importance , and urged the Government to bring in a bill this session on the subject . —After a few words from Lord Hedesdale , Lord Granville said that the Government could not pledge themselves to introduce a bill on the subject at the present late period

    . .. ..... Their lordships adjourned at a quarter-past

    seven . CHURCH RATES ABOLITION . In the House of Commons , after a considerable amount of private business , Sir J . Trelawny moved that the House do resolve itself into a committee upon the Church-rates Abolition Bill . —Mr . Nj ^ vbegate moved , as an amendment , a resolution that the House resolve itself iritQ a committee to consider the propriety of establishing in lieu of church-rates , thenceforth to be abolished , a charge on all hereditaments in respect of the occupancy of which churchrates have been paid within the last seven years , to be levied with the county-rate at an uniform rate of noundaffe . the occuDier beiner in all cases entitled to

    deduct from his rent the amount of the charge levied on his occupation to be paid to the Governors of Queen Anne ' s Bounty , who shall be empowered to administer the same for the purposes of church-rates . He did not propose , he said , to alter one word of the bill ; he accepted the decision of the House that church-rates shall be abolished ,, and he proposed this charge , at the rate of 2 d . in the pound , as a substitute that would satisfy conscientious scruples , and obviate the objections made to church-rates . Where these rates had been abolished let the abolition , he

    DEFENCE OF THE COUNTRY . Sir De Lacy Evans moved a resolution : — " That , taking into consideration the relations existing between some of the great military Powers of the Continent , it is advisable that a commission be appointed , consisting of civilians and military and naval officers , to inquire into and collect information concerning the present position of our national defences ; to ascertain what improvements may be made therein , in order to insure the utmost efficiency combined with economy , and to report thereon to her Majesty ' s Government . Mr . II . I ) . Seymour called attention to the undefended state of the coast between "Weymouth and

    Mr . S . Herbert in reply to Mr . Adderley , after remarking that nothing could- be more unreasonable and capricious than the proportions of their military expenditure paid by different colonies , drew distinctions between garrison colonies , maintained for military reasons and for imperial purposes , and the greater dependencies , inhabited by a numerous and self-supporting community ; as also between the military forces employed in police duties and those required for external defence . Stating in detail the various sums raised in different colonies for military purposes , and comparing them with the proportions contributed by the English Exchequer , he expressed his concurrence in the opinion that the mother country

    bore an unfair proportion of the burthen . A committee , composed of three gentlemen of gre ^ t experience , were , however , already investigating the subject , though he did not venture to anticipate any very early solution of the difficulty . In reply to Sir De Lacy Evans , Mr . Herbert also stated that a commission was some time since nominated to inquire into the condition and management of the ports , arsenals , and other establishments connected with the provision for national defences .-r-Mr . Haliburton , reverting to the colonial question , remarked that Canada had more than once , by her homeraised militia , repulsed foreign invasion , and put down domestic rebellion . The certainty that

    England would , in time of need , interfere for their aid , furnished a moral support which kept the Canadian population free from hostile assault . If the mother country withdrew her troops , she should give the colonists their independence . Canada was quite capable of its own defence ; but if you withdraw your troops and your fleet , he said , let us have due notice , and give us our independence . — Mr . HoBSMAX expressed his satisfaction at the assent of the Government to the appointment of a Commission , and suggested , respecting the commission of inquiry into the ports and arsenals , that the official element should not be allowed to predominate in its composition . Viewing the admitted impossibility

    of securing our coasts against invasion , he also recommended that the commissioners _ should include' in their investigation an inquiry into the state of the internal defences of the country . —Lord Elcho trusted that the investigation to be conducted by the commission would be made as full and comprehensive as possible . — Lord Palmerston said the question was of very great importance ; but he hoped Sir De Lacy Evans would be satisfied with the statement made by Mr . S . Herbert , and not press his resolution , the adoption of which would put an end to supply that evening . He could not agree that the Commission should go into a

    said , be sanctioned ; but let not this limit be ox . ceeded , and the whole burden be cast upon the voluntary system , which was already deficient to n considerable extent . —Mr . 1 ) odson opposed the resolution . This tax , he contended , had always been voluntary , for the Church never had the power to say , " You shall make a church-rate > " it had only the power to enforce the repair of churches by a process at present obsolete and ineffectual , and the parishioners now made q . rate only when they pleased . The resolution would substitute for a rate voluntarily

    wide range of inquiry , and examine matters not proper for a Commission . The object of the Commission would bo to inquire as to the permanent works for dockyards and arsenals , which would not vary from year to year , whereas the number and composition of our military force and other matters varied according to the circumstances of the country , and for those the Government were responsible . — Mr . Ariivox said the Commission which the Government proposed to grant would" not in the least meet the object of Sir Do Lacy Evans , which was to inquire into the whole system and mininmm means of our ordinary defence , ' naval and military , against any sudden aggression . —The motion of Sir De Lacy Evans was negatived .

    made a fixed burden . Upon a division , the amendment was negatived by 191 to 99 . After another effort for delay , urged by Lord JManners , the House went into committee on the bill , and Vas engaged in discussing an amendment to the first clause , moved by Mr . Crpss , when at ton minutes to four the debate vraa adjourned . The Universities ( Scotland ) Bill was afterwards read a third time and passed , and the House at four o ' clock suspended business for two hours . , Shortly after resuming , at eix o ' clock , the House was counted out . Wednesday . July 27 ..

    BRITISH MUSEUM . Mr . Wax-pole , in moving the British Museum Estimates , made a brief statement of the condition of that institution . —Mr . Grboobt repeated the remarks upon the system and management of the museum which he had made on the occasion of his motion in the last Parliament , at the beginning of the year , and recommended several subjects connected with the institution to the consideration of the Government during the recess . If the money voted for the museum ( from 75 , 000 / . to 80 , 000 / . ) , ho observed , be spent , it should be , spent creditably . He urged Btrongly , as upon the former occasion , the expediency of separating the national history collec-; ion , and of making the museum an institution , not merely of exhibition , but of instruction , by means of lectures \ and ho complained that tho assistants

    In tho Housm of Commons the Kallway Company Arbitration Bill and tho Imprisonment for « nwll Debts Bill passed through committee . HIGH SHKRIIWS' DILL . On the motion for going into committee on this bill , Mr , Wish opposod the measure , and moved , us an amendment , that tho committee should bo deferred for three months . —Sir J . Shhljusi * defended the bill , which affected , ho said , only tho javolin-mpn , substituting the county police , and ho should bo glaU to do away with ft parcel of useless men , not always of the soberest class .-i-Mr . Dbbdeo said the avovou

    country . Tho consequence was that the colonists on the average paid baroly ft tithe of their own military outlay , although they were taxed in , loss than ono-fiftieth part of tho amount imposed upon the bomo community . It was , he insisted , most neceseary % o remodel tho system for tho eako both ot England and tho colonies themselves , by enabling and , instructing them how to furnish defensive armament * qufflclent for their own protection . — -Lord A . CntmouxM . concurred wjth Mr . Adderley that the colonies might come forward and provide « local militia for their own defence .

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), July 30, 1859, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_30071859/page/4/