On this page

• Text (2)

  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.

  • 

    Untitled Article

  • 

    Untitled Article

• Transcript

  • 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.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    Untitled Article

    The papers were then ordered to be laid on the table , andvtheir lordships adjourned . Six-Mile-Bridge . —In the House of Lords , on Monday , the Earl of Cardigan again called attention to the prosecution of the Irish , soldiers engaged in the Six- Mile-Bridge affray . He complained that the . Government did not enter a nolle proieqfui , or had not adopted the course pursued when the noble lord the member for the city of London and his associates in office had a verdict of wilful murder returned against them during the famine in Ireland . He had been informed upon high authority that it was not the intention of the late Government to prosecute these soldiers .

    The Earl of Aberdeen maintained that the Irish Government had pursued the only course which law or justice left open to them . With all the respect which he entertained for the army , and for their noble conduct upon all occasions , he had still greater respect for the due administration of the law . The course to be pursued was perfectly clear . The grand jury would deal with the bills as they thought proper , and after the trial it would remain for the Government to decide what course they would take . As to the bills of indictment against the priests , they would be proceeded with in the same manner as the bills against the soldiers . No distinction would be made in the" administration of the law in Ireland' between the priest and the soldier , the peer or the peasant .

    Her Majesty ' s Theatre Bill . — In the House of Commons , on Tuesday , Mr . Phinn moved the second reading of Her Majesty ' s Theatre Association Bill ; and having alluded to the difficulties with which the Opera had struggled from the time of Handel to that of Lumley , to the fact that both Operas were notoriously insolvent , to the superior advantages enjoyed by foreign operatic establishments , and to the passage in the speech from the Throne recommending the encouragement of the arts , he explained that the object of this measure was to form a corporation of gentlemen , supporters of the lyric drama , who , with limited liability , might maintain the Opera upon its ancient site .

    Mr . Hums , without objecting to any of the arguments of Mr . Phinn , thought that the bill should be withdrawn until the question of limited liability had been formally settled by the Legislature . Mr . Monckton Miiiies , after a tribute to Mr . Lumley ' s energy , urged that no one man ' s fortune could maintain the Opera , but that a body of noblemen and gentlemen should not be prevented from endeavouring to do so , and he intimated that any opposition ^ must come from a rival manager . Mr . Clat thought that the bill infringed upon important principles , and reminded the House that competition had produced a most beneficial effect upon the interests of operatic art . Sir George Pechell opposed the bill .

    Mr . Cardwell said that , having been appealed to in the discussion , he came forward to say that his predecessor , Mr . Henley , had refused the charter applied for , and that he ( Mr . Cardwell ) had considered the subject , and had come to the same decision , after a long interview with Mr . Lumley . He admitted the high consideration of the persons who sought this bill , but the law knew no difference of persons , and on matter of principle he must oppose a bill tho object of which was to create a limited liability . On a division the bill was lost by 170 to 79 . Divorce . —On the second reading of a bill to extend the law of evidence Act to Scotland , Lord Campbell eavo some information as to the conclusions the Divorce

    commission have come to . They recommended the House not to pass an act of Parliament in each case , but that there should be a regular tribunal established , to take cognizance of such matters , consisting of a vice-chancellor , an ecclesiastical j udge , and a common-law iudge , and that tho proceedings should take place judicially when a petition camo from tho husband against his wife for adultery ; but when a wife asked for a dissolution of marriago on account of tho misconduct of her husband , they wore of opinion that ought to bo a matter of legislation , because it would bo impossible to lay down any code by which a court of justice could bo regulated in deciding such matters .

    County Boards . —Mr . Milner Gibson , on Wednesday , carried his bill to a second reading . Government , through Lord Palmorston , accepts tho bill , provided it be adapted to tho bill of 1851 . They , however , will permit tho clause , placing the election of tho financial board , one half of whom must bo justices , in the hands of tho boards of guardians . Tho country gentlemen , of Tory politics , Mr . Hknlky , Mr . Frkshfiklt ) , and especially Sir John Pakinoton , opposed the bill , on the ground that it was an insult and a degradation to the unpaid magistracy ! Breach or Privile « k . —Mr . T . Duncombe , in presenting a petition upon the subject , called the attention of tho TIouso to a broach of its privileges , by tho

    unauthorised notice of withdrawal of tho petition presented against tho return of tho Hitting mombors for tho city of Norwich , by which ho considered that a fraud had bcon practiaea upon tho House Referring to an objection from Mr . Wilson Patton on a point of ordor , ho indignantly protested against any attempt to " swamp" tho inquiry ; and concluded by moving that Colonel Dixon and Mr . Brown , tlni parliamentary agent , be called to tho bar of tho house . Mr . IIuMK suggested that tho documents relating to tho case should be printed and duo notice given of tho motion . Mr . Gi , at > htonk , Lord J . Rushkli ,, and Mr . II . Haii . lik concurred a * to" tho propriety of deliberation in tho matter , Booing that it was not clear that tho ease involved a broach of privilege .

    Tho Ki'KAKKit considered that that question must bo decided before- any further stops could bo takon . To tho best of bin belief tho aiso did not involvo a breach of privilege . Mr . Dunoomhk ultimately consented to withdraw his motion for the prouont , iu order that tho petition might bo printed . Mr . Duummohd and Mr . Lockk Kma have also th » mutter in luuul .

    Depittt Speaker . —Sir R . H . Inglis moved for a select committee to consider the best means of providing for the execution of the office of Speaker , in the event of Mr . Speaker ' s unavoidable absence by reason of illness or of other cause . In a long speech he adduced historical precedents in favour of such a course , and observed that the House of Commons was the only legislative body which had not made the kind of provision ho recommended ' . Mr . Hume opposed the motion as unnecessary , thinking that , if a deputy were appointed , he would be much more often in the chair thaw the Speaker . But the motion was agreed to . Brotherton moved

    Newspaper Stamps . — Mr . on Monday for a return of newspaper stamps issued for 1851 and 1852 . Mr . James Wilson hoped it would not be pressed for , as it was not wholly a public return , but would interfere with private concerns . Mr . Gibson supported the motion , because it would show the truth , and enable advertisers to select the best medium . Mr . Gladstone objected that if the return should reveal nothing but the truth , that was not a conclusive reason why it should be made . We should get at the truth by a publication of the income-tax returns affecting trade ; but it would not be right to publish private affairs . Why should this one class of traders be subjected to a hardshi p from which others are exempt ? Mr . Hume supported the motion ; but Mr . Brotherton seemed to admit the force of the objections , and it was withdrawn .

    Supply . —The several items of the navy estimates were discussed and agreed to , on Monday night , in a committee of the whole House . Sir James Graham explained the checks to corporal punishment in the navy . In the first place , care was taken that punishment should not be inflicted in hot blood , it being provided that an interval of twenty-four hours should elapse between the offence and the punishment . Then the amount of punishment was strictly limited , and it was provided that no more than forty-eight lashes hould be inflicted in one day . The commanding officer of the vessel was obliged to ke , ep a minute record of all the circumstances which led to the infliction of the punishlorwarded to tne

    ment in every case . This document was admiral on the station , and by him transmitted to the Admiralty . There it came under the revision of one of the naval officers of the board , and thus the list of punishments in each ship was brought under the review of the Board of Admiralty , and in every case in which it appeared either to the admiral on the station or the Board of Admiralty that explanation was required , that explanation was demanded . In deciding on the merits of commanding officers the Admiralty always had reference to tlie number of punishments on board his ship , and the preference was given to the officer who was able to maintain order on board with the smallest number of punishments .

    Another interesting topic was the wages in the Royal dockyards . Mr . Tujnell , Mr . Collier , and Mr . Montague Chambers urged the claims of the employes to higher wages . Sir James Graham and Mr . Hume insisted that not one farthing more than the marketable value should be paid for labour in the dockyards . There were no vacancies at present , but Mr . Osborne , the Secretary , was inundated with applications from shipwrights . It is somewhat remarkable that the question of disfranchising the dockyard employes was mooted . Mr . Montague Chambers was surprised to hear that it was under consideration to take the franchise from the dockyard men .

    From what he knew of that class , he thought it probable , if the suggestion were acted on , that some of the best men would be lost to the service , because some of the most high-spirited men would be lost—men who valued their privilege and right as much as any member of the House , and who knew how to use them . Mr . Hume remarked that if tho franchise were taken away promotions could be made on account of merit . Mr . W . Williams observed that if the dockyard mon were deprived of tho franchise a check would be put on extravagance . In committee of supply last night , Mr . Sidney Herbert moved the Army Estimates . After mentioning a orics of minor details , and changes from the last estimates , among which was an increase of 20001 . a year for good to that tho diminished

    conduct rewards , ho proceeded say charge at which Sir James Graham had said it was found possible to keep up as large and efficient a force as boforo was not confined to tho navy . In 1835 , the model economical year , tho army estimates had been 5 , 900 , 0002 . whereas in this year they woro o , 025 , 000 J ,, showing apparently an excess ; but if wo deducted a sum of about 250 , 0002 . for items which , on tho rccommomlations of commissions and otherwise , had boon added to tho estimates , we should find a saving of 137 , 0001 . But , in addition , wo had actually 21 , 000 men morn than in 1835 , tho number being now 102 , 283 . Ho then showed how much had been done for tho comfort of the men , and for their libraries , schools ( of which ho gave a very interesting account ) , and savings banks , and ho also argued tho advance in the soldier ' s character from tho ontinuous progressive diminution of corporal

    puniulirnentu—a diminution which did not arise from any laxity of discipline , but from ganeral improvement , as waa proved by court-martial records , which showed that othor punishments had ulso boon reduced in number . On the hoalth of the army ho was able to speak most satisfactorily , and he showed a remarkable reduction in tho porcontugp of mortality , both at home and on various foreign station * . lie next adverted to tho necessity of making our army more efficient \ at homo . Wo have been in tho habit of using our army too much us a police Our soldiers were scattered at far too many stations , and could never bo fit for fiold duty when thoy never saw an assemblage of troops , lie hopod to be able to of lee t a greater concentration of soldiers in this country by withdrawing them from those colonies to which we woro conceding tho right of oelfjfovornmont , and which would learn solf-protootioii . It was proposed to make arrangements for a station , for ball practice and tho uso of tho Minio * rifle , to which

    non-commissioned officers and men should be drafted to learn these , afterwards returning to their regiments , to be succeeded by other drafts . It was also intended that in the summer an encampment should be formed , to which regiments should be sent for instruction , which would occasion scarcely more expense to the country than a change of quarters . He then stated that Lord Hardinge had been giving his best attention to the subject of weapops , and had sent to America and to all parts of the Continent for specimens , and trusted to be

    able to put into the hands of the British soldier a lighter , yet more effective weapon than had yet been produced . Our army must always be numerically small , but it ought to be perfectly drilled , and he believed that we had material for the most perfect army that could be conceived . The nation had a right to demand this , and he hoped to see the British army brought to a more effective condition than it had ever reached—an object to which , while he continued in office , his best efforts should be directed . The votes were then agreed to in unusually rapid style .

    Indian Grievances . —In the House of Lords , last night , theEarlof ELLENBOROirGHpresentedapetition from certain native inhabitants of Madras , praying for a redress of grievances , which principally arose from excessive and oppressive taxation , and the delay and expense of the courts of law . The petitioners suggested a variety of reforms for the improvement of the Government of India . The noble earl having gone at length into the statement of the alleged grievances , inquired whether it was the intention of her Majesty ' s Government to introduce any measure for tho future government of India this session ? The Earl of Aberdeen replied that it was their intention , although he was not then prepared to state what modifications he intended to propose . They would , however , be founded upon the reports of the committee of both Houses . The petition was ordered to be referred to the committee on Indian affairs .

    Chicory and Coffee . —In the House of Commons , in reply to a question by Mr . Hume , the Chancellor of the Exchequer said , the Government had come to the decision that the public interests would be best consulted by allowing chicory to be sold in a state of mixture with coffee , provided it was so described in labels attached thereto .

    Untitled Article

    LETTERS PROM PARIS . [ Fkom our own Correspondent . ] Letter LXI . Paris , February 22 , 1853 . Rttmoues of war have sprung up within the last day or two to shake good easy folk from the somnolence with which our present regime has oppressed them . " The Austrians have occupied tbe Canton of Ticino " — " Austria proposes to Bonaparte to occupy Geneva

    while she occupies the Ticino . " " England proposes to Bonaparte an offensive and defensive alliance to prevent the dismemberment of tlie Ottoman Empire . " Such are the three big rumours which have risen like a nightmare on the drowsy torpor of this city , producing an almost electrical commotion in the regions of the Bourse . Everybody was running to the Bourse to learn details . But there , as everywhere , no reliable information to be obtained . In this universal disquiet down went the funds .

    One good result , at leust , this triple rumour ha » produced : it will have startled from their slumbers many who had began to fancy that they had nothing now to do but to shake their pillows , cover up their ears , and turn their heads to the wall . It is now well understood by all people that toar is inevitable . The insurrection of Milan , tho attempt to assassinate the Emperor of Austria , prove to tho most torpid , and the most complacent , that the revolution i » neither dead nor sleeping ; and that tlie more terrible the compression , the more destructive will be the explosion . It is now confessed that , soon or late , the revolution , which stalks abroad liko Fate , and wraps thrones and tyrannies like a thunder-cloud , will have to be encountered , and before its terrible tribunal despotism will have to justify its cruelties and crimes .

    With regard to the state of Europe generally , tho partition of Turkey appears to be almost a probable eventuality . Russia and Austria desire to take advantage of the present situation of France , ruled by an adventurer she detests , and of the momentary respite that the ebbing tide of the revolution still permit ;* , to effect a dismemberment which shall change tho face of Europe . In the third place , Russia and Austria have a direct interest in war . These two powers think to create a strong diversion to the revolutionary spirit by war . Fourthly , the northorn powers having comparatively insignificant niariiio forcen , would niaku tho war

    continental . Tho French army would thus find itself alone in the luce of tho unities of the three powers . In thin continental war England ( supposing her to be thus disposed ) could , in fact , l >« of little or no support to Franco on lurid . The two navies of Franco and England might sweep tho sons and find no howtilo fleets to conquer or din ^ rae . Sucli is huro considered to bo tho calculation of tho northern diplomacies . It were well that the English Government whould bo strong and ublo enough to master the situation (< i la hauteur de la situation ) . In such a war I know not what would bo tho policy of tho Engliah Cabinet , but tho

    Untitled Article

    Pebrwart 26 , 1853 . ] THELEADE R . 1 W

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 26, 1853, page 197, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1975/page/5/