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Leader (1850-1860), 11th August 1855, Edition 1 of 2, Page 759, Atr&PST 11, 1855.] T EC E 1m B A DEB. 7^

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    • Atr&PST 11, 1855.] T EC E 1m B A DEB. 7^

      Atr&PST 11, 1855.] T EC E 1m B A DEB. 7^

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      Trie House Of Commons Sat For A Short Ti...

      Upon a division , tho amend meat was negatived : by 39 to 15 , and the House wenti iato committee : upon tbe bilk

      LIMITED LIABILITY BILL . In the House of Lorxls , oa Tuesday y Lord / Stasu > ey op Aldkbi-eY' moved the suspension of the order of the House with respect to measures brought up from , the ! Lower House , ia order Hunt the Limited LutbiUty Bill might be proceeded with . —This motion , waa opposed by Lord Kj £ dbbi > ale , on the ground that-no co * e of urgency had beea made out . Lord X 4 YTTHL . HOX , Lord Gjikv , and Lord St . Leonard ' s , also stuongly objected to proceeding with the bilJ , which tliey conceived would have , a pernicious effect Lord > Granvillk , Lord Clanbicabih :, and the Lord Ciiancklloh replied , a » d the motion was affirmed by 38 to 14 . —After some further discussion , the . bill was read a second time .

      The Turkish Loan Bill , and the Downing , street Pirunc Oi-jpiciiS ICxTENfiias Bill , were read a third time and passed .

      REVISION OF THE INBLE . In the House of Commons , at the morning sitting , Mr . Hey wood gave notice that next session lie would address the Crown , praying that her Majesty will be pleased to appoint a commission to inquire into the state of the B ible , and to prepare a plan for therfiirther revision of the English , translation . KXOriEQUER BILLS ( 7 , 000 , 000 / . ) HILL . On the order for the third reading of this bill , Sir Henry Willocgiiby said he was not satisfied with the absolute necessity of this addition to the unfunded debt , which was now higher than during any period of the last war , witli the exception of tho

      years from 1812 to 1820 , when it was 56 , 000 , 000 i In the last two 3 'ears the unfunded debt has been nearly doubled . In 1853 , it stood at 17 , 000 , 000 / . ; in 1854 , at 23 , 000 , 000 / . ; and at the end of the present financial year it would be 30 , 000 , 000 / . The income of the country is in fact forestalled for several years . There was no absolute necessity for this 7 , 000 , 000 / . The House had voted in one shape or another 91 , 500 , 000 / . He did not find the expenditure to be more in the aggregate than 88 , 500 , 000 / . The

      Chancellor of the Exchequer took a margin of 4 . 440 , 000 / . in his Budget of April , and deducting 200 , 000 / . from this on account of the withdrawal of the proposal witli regard to bankers * cheques , it was reduced to 4 , 250 . 000 / . This taken from G , 135 , 00 ()/ ., the amount of the second estimate , left a surplus of 1 , 970 , 000 / . Tho margin on the Budget being ^ jalcuiated up to the latter end of July , the most expensive portion of the financial year , he thought it was too much for the Government to call upon the House for an addition of 7 , 000 , 000 / . to the unfunded debt .

      1 he Chancellor of THE KxcijKQiF . it observed that the unfunded debt , even if increased to the ¦ whole extent proposed , would not cqunl the amount which was reached during and since the Into war , when there were also Government bills in circulation , and the rate of interest upon Exchequer-bills was greater than at present . lie really was at a loss to understand what difference there was between the lion , baronet ' s calculations and those which he ( the Chancellor of the Exchequer ) had submitted to the House . He then repeated the details which he had given on the subject in the Committee of Ways and Means , with a view to showing that he had not made any error in his calculations . —The bill was then read a third time and passed . 1 'ROSI'KCTS Or TIIK \ V . \ U . — STATE OF ITALY .

      On the order for the third reading of the Consolidated Fund ( Appropriation ) Bill , Lord Joun llcabki-l called attention to the prospects of tho war . Without desiring either to aggravate or diminish tho responsibilities of Ministers , he thought it his duty to refer to certain facts . It is evident that the enemy does not intend to meet us in naval combat ; nnd , as regards any offensive operations in the North , though the spirit of our men is not to be doubted , the season for active operations ia l > egianing to wane . The position of the Turks in Asia is perilous ; ami a largo Russian army has been roloasod from Poland . With respect to terms of peace , the Turkish ambassador at Vicuna—a man of large knowledge and experience —hud been satisfied with tho Austrian propositions . If at any future period

      terms of peace , should he acceded to by Turkey , Which France and Kngluml , lor . the sake of their military honour , should refine , wo should then have to subsidise Turkey in order to secure her assistance . The- Kmperor of the French h ; ul been , not or » ly so faithful , but so prudent an 1 just an ally , that he was disposed to pay great consideration to any opinions of his as to negotiations *» £ peace ; yet , if safe and honourable terms were oflered , ho hoped the war would not be continued . Hut wo have another faithful ally in the Pwuou of the King of Sardinia ; and this uoiiHtitu-Wonal monarch is naturally desirous for the exten-BjWx of freodom in Italy . Tho condition of things in "" MjonhiBuhi , however , in this -that tho Statea of ino Church are partly in the occupation of Austrian "Toojjp , whilo tho capital , Komc , ia occupied by those

      of France . The-consequencei ia th & fcrthe Pope ceaaea to be an independent sovereign ,, a * wl the balance of European power is disturbed . If these troops were withdrawn , there would probably be a revolutionary government ; but would it not be possible for England , in concert with Prance aqrl Austria , to devise some system for the Papal States consonant with the wishes of the people and the elements of justice ? He could not but think that the Emperor of France would be happy to concert with us for such an object .

      Mr . WijLKiMBON , iu . a brief speech , admitted that the sympathies ' of the English people ar-e in favour of the Italians , Poles , and Hungarians , and he thought the French occupation q £ Rome was . to be regretted ; but at the same time he must , say that the present was nofc-the right period for urging such considerations-upon the Government . Lord Palmkbstok , in replying to Lord John Russell , commenced by referring to the degree of responsibility of which the Government had been reminded , and observed : —

      "It must be , indeed , a grave reason ¦ which eould induce a man who lias been party to the war- — -who haa conducted the war—who has concurred in the reasons for commencing the war—who has been a party to call upou the country to make a great sacrifice—who has , up to a very recent period , concurred in all measures which were proposed—it should , indeed , be a grave reason which could induce such a man utterly to change his opinions—( ^ cheers ')—to declare that the war to which he was a part } ' is unnecessary and unjust , and to state before the country all the imaginary disasters with which his fancy could furnish his speech , and to be the champion of the enemy against whom his country is engaged . I am not such a man . My right honourable friends , my colleagues in the Government , are not men of that stami > . '

      much improved ; preparations , are already being made for wintering in the camp ; several reforms have been effected ia the medical department ; and . arrangements are being made at the hospitals which ? will increase the comforts of the sick and wounded * With a few exceptions , Mr . Peel did not object to the production of the documents moved for ; and ultimatel y the motion , in . an amended form , was ragreed to .

      THE INDIAN AEMT . The House having resolved itself into a committee upon Indian accounts and papers , Mr . Yeenon Smith ; detailed the items of revenue and expenditure of-thedifferent Presidencies . These exhibited a deficiency of three millions , owing chiefly to the inerease of expenditure upon public works for the improvement of India . It would not be prudent to reduce the Indian army ; and the attempt to reduce the interest of the Indian debt had * een met by a new five per cent , loan . It had been said that an amount of 10 , 000 , 0007 . was required ; but it was a question whether it might not be reduced considerably . He did not think it

      possible , however , to effectaoy reduction of taxation , and , with Ee ^ peet to public works , the sum expended upon them ought not to be considered as a loss , since great improvements are being made in prisons , roads , and other internal matters . The mode by which the income and expenditure may be equalised , must be left to the consideration of the Indian . Government ; and he was sure that when the present difficulties are surmounted , permanent prosperity will set in . Upon the whole , he believed the political

      and social state of India to be satisfactory . Friendlyrelations exist with Nepaul ; and , although Persia has been intriguing with Russia , no fear need be entertained of a Russian invasion of our Indian Empire . Steps have been taken to put an end to the practice of torture ; a new system of competition for appointments in the civil service has been instituted ; and the education of the natives is progressing . With a compliment to the new Governor-General , Mr . Vernon Smith concluded by moving the adoption of the report . t t

      Immediately after this pointed allusion , Lord Palmcrston observed tliat nothing which he had said in any degree applied to " his noble friend . " He then proceeded to remark that the conditions of peace must be modified by the results of the war ; that he had no reason to suppose the Turkish Government differed from France . England in respect to the Austrian proposals , but that , if they did , the objects of the war are wider than any merely Turkish considerations . The protection of Turkey is the means to an end . Behind that protection is the greater question of repressing the ambition of Russia , and saving freedom from extinction . France and England , therefore , have a still greater interest in the matter than Turke 3 , to whom should not be left the sole decision of the conditions of peace .

      Mr . Bright , in moving thathe annual accouns of the finances of India be made up to the 20 th of October , and the annual statement brought forward at an earlier period of the session , when there is more time for examination , observed that he could not help , suspecting there had not been common honesty on the part of the Indian Government in the conversion of the five per cents , into four per cents ., followed first by a three and a half per cent , loan , and then by one at five per cent ., called ( though delusively ) a Public Works Loan . He conceived that the deficit did not really arise from expenditure on public works ; and he denounced the secrecy observed by the Indian Government in connexion with financial matters .

      With respect to Italy , the French occupation of Romo had had the effect of restoring tranquillity , nnJ the army there had been recently greatly reduced . Tiie . Austrian occupation of Tuscany had altogether ceased , aud he was able to deny the assertion that the Austrian army in Lombardy had lately been augmented . He could not say whether Austria would ever take the iield with us ; but he was sure she would not take it against us . The position of so great a people as the Italians could not but give the greatest pain ; and , if an \ opportunity should arise , the Government of England , and he believed that of France , would give their best attention to the amelioration of the peninsula , and to the furtherance of those benevolent objects to which Lord John liu . ssell had referred .

      Sir James Hog g contended , in answer to Mr . Bright , that the conversion of the Five , per Cents . was perfectly justifiable , and that the Public " Works Loan is nothing more than what it pretends to be ; Sir Charlus Wood expressed a similar opinion , and made some statements in justification of his financial calculations last year ; and Mr . John Phillimore , Mr . Otwav , Mr . " Henley , Mr . " Whiteside , Mr . Mangles , Mr . Dasby Sktmodr , and Mr . V . Scce . lt , having spoken , the resolutions of Mr . Vernos Smith were agreed to , as were those of Mr . Bright , with some slight alterations . , Tnn Militia Pay Bill was read a third time and passed .

      After a few observations from , Mr . IIesi-ey , who could not see what good could arise from this discussion , the bill was read a third time and passed .

      TUB HOSPITALS IN TUB KAST . Mr . Staii-ori ) moved for copies of reports relative to the Knglissh military and naval hospitals at Smyrna , Scutari , Kululee , Thempia , «& c . ; of any reports made by Sir John M'Neill or other commissioner *) , in reference to the sanitary condition of tho camp in the Crimea ; and generally of any official communications on the health of the troops and sailors . With respect to the alleged neglect of the wounded after the ISth of . rune , he had heard that Dr . Hall desired an inqxiiry ; and he then proceeded to read extracts from the evidence taken before tho sanitary commission , with a view to show that tho medical accommodation iu tho camp was of the worst possible description . A system of rivalry exists butweuu the civil ami the military hospitals ; and , while tho civil surgeons are

      CORNET naUMGARTEN . In the House of Commons , on Wednesday , in rcplv to a question put by Mr . Stanley , Mr . Frederick . Peel stated that an inquiry had been made in the Crimea into the conduct of Captain Fitzwygram , of the 1 st Dragoons , 'towards Cornet Baumgarten , the result of which entirely exonerated him from blame . . , The Bithial Bill was read a third time and passed , with some amendments . The adjourned debate upon the additional clauses and the other amendments proposed upon the third reading of the Criminal . Justice Bill was then resumed , and the bill ultimately passed . Other bills were forwarded their respective stages , and the House adjourned .

      paid at the rate of two guineas a day , tho army surgeonH have only 7 s . (> . l . It is not therefore * surprising that assistant-surgeons should l > e leaving , tho army for more profitable occupation , la conclusion , . Mr . Staflbrd mentioned that ho ia shortly going again to tho camp ; and he felt that thin nation is respon sible for a great waste of human life . —Mr . Fiti :-pkkick I ' uul stated that an inquiry is now being iiiado into the allegations inndd by the "Army Surgeon" iiv his letter to tho Times ; and the testimony of two civil surgoonu had already shown that those allegations were a gross imposition on public credulity . Tho pay of civil and tirmy surgeons is not so unequal as might seem , since the latter have ninny allowances to which tho former arc not entitled . Tho health of the Crimean army ia now

      LIMITED I . lAlULITT IUI . L . In the House of Lords , on Thursday , Lord CxiMNville succeeded , in spite of some opposition , in procuring tho suspension of the standing order m lavour of several hills wlueh ooiild not otherwise »«™ ££ " discussed—Upon the Limited Liability » i » , « ^ ' £ arose upon a proposition by Lord St . J' ^ ' ^/ j rvfor it to a seWt committee ; \ ^^ ^ M liitBT , Lord MoNTK . voi . K , and Lord l V ^ f l ! Lord supposing mo motion which was J ft ^ 13 r . ynvii . lb nnd Lord iyrANi . ia . Uyc »» . d b the motion of Lord St . 1 . «; m » h was M £ a majority of as to II , n . ul " ¦• *« « , £ eo u ) O 1 Jl of further remonstrance , m-M , t " •« o <¦ , wnolluWntB the bill , and u ti . nate y « . ^ mont , ftnd which ^ itlSrinatle ^ ^ aorui ., passed it through that stage .

      Atr&Pst 11, 1855.] T Ec E 1m B A Deb. 7^

      Atr & PST 11 , 1855 . ] T EC E 1 m B A DEB . 7 ^

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 11, 1855, page 759, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/ldr_11081855/page/3/