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    reached the Commons , would open the whole ques tion ; and he ( Sir George Grey ) hoped the House would suspend its decision till that measure came to be considered . He , therefore , moved the previous question . —Mr . Morris having made a few remarks ia explanation of a case adverted to by Mr . Roebuck , Mr . WrisoN re 2 > lied to the charges brought against him by the mover of the resolution , who said that the claims of his brother-in-law had been passed over more than once by Mr . Wilson , from political or other unworthy considerations . To this , Mr . Wilson replied that the principle fixed upon for advancing salaries , on the occasions referred to , was the amount of work which devolved upon the respective Judges .

    be elected annually , as at present ; and the qualification will be the possession of real or personal estate worth £ 1 , 000 , or a rating to the amount of j £ 30- The choice of Loi-d Mayor will no longer be confined to the present limits , but every person eligible to be elected a Common Councilman shall be eligible to be elected Lord Mayor . The exclusive privileges enjoyed by members of the corporation , as regards the carrying on . of trade , are to be abolished , as ¦ well as the dues and street tolls now imposed , and the privileges of the Watermen ' s Company . With regard to the coal duties , arrangements will be made for allowing them to expire after the mortgages upon them are paid off . The City police will not be disturbed , but the City will become part of the metropolis as regards police magistracy , tlxus restricting the Aldermen to their civil dutiea .

    Sir James Duke assured Sir George Grey that the corporation would consider the bill fairly , but he hoped ample time would bo given before the second reading . —Mr . Williams highly approved of the measure . — Sir George Grey intimated that he proposed to take the second reading on the 21 st of the month . —Leave was then given ; and the bill was read a first time .

    tion exactly where it was before . —Mr . Mtnrrz thought the wisest plan would be to let the present law rest but to make an , exception with respect to horizontal drums and shafts . —Mr . Cheetuam and Mr . Brotherton having spoken in support of the bill , Colonel Dunke moved that the debate be adjourned . Upon a division , this motion was negatived by a large majority ; bat , as it then wanted only a few minutes to six o ' clock , the debate , according to a rule of the House , stood adjourned . Thursday , April Zrd .

    TOBTURE IN INDIA . In the House op Lords , the Earl of Albemarle moved an addr ©« to the Crown for the production of certain documents relative to the collection of taxes in the district of Chingleput , ha the presidency of Madras , which proved that torture had been inflicted on several natives , by order of Mr . C . J . Shubrick , the magistrate and collector of the district . Lord Albeinarle stated that this torture ( which , had been inflicted as late as last July ) , arose chiefly out of the collection of the nioturpha , or tax on implements used in all trades and professions—a tax which he denounced as absurd aud iniquitous . —The Duke of Argyll , on the part of the Government , consented to the production of the papers , and expressed the wish of Ministers that the moturpha should be . abolished . —The motion was then agreed to , and the House adjourned .

    THE BLOCKADE . In the Hoxtse op Commons , Mr . Thomas Mitchell asked whether— - " British property , to the amount of more than one million sterling , being now locked up in Russia—it is the intention of the Government to continue the blockade of the Russian' coast pending the ratification of peace ; and whether , if the blockade is to cesLse at once , an arrangement has been made to enable British -vessels to enter Russian ports for commercial purposes without risk of seizure ?—Lord Paxmerston' stated that , the armistice having- been extended to the sea as well as to the laud , the blockade of tlxe Russian ports was at an end . The second part of the question depended ou other considerations , as to ¦ which he could not at present make any statement .

    THE TICK . ET-OF-LEAVE SYSTEM . Mr . Francis Scott moved for ¦ " A select committee to consider how fax and in what direction recent legislation , and the substitution of other . punishment for transportation , has influenced the existing amount of crime . " Crime was increasing to an alarming extent , and that circumstance was good evidence that the present system , of punishments was not effective for its object . The Home Secretary had given notice of an amendment limiting the inquiry to the operation of the Act 16 and 17 of Victoria :

    but he ( Mr . Scott ) could not consent to such a limitation . The ticket-of-le . ave system , had failed , and the statements to the contrary inust have been founded on imperfect information . According to the latest returns , 144 of the population of England are confined , in prison as convicts , or as persons charged with crime ; and , judging from the precedent of the last peace , it might be expected that , on the conclusion of the Russian war , a large increase iii the criminal population will be dei'ived from disbanded soldiers . — Mr . Lloyi > Davies seconded the motion .

    Sir George Grey then moved his amendment that a select committee be appointed to inquire into the opez'ation of the Act 16 and 17 Victoria , c . 99 , entitled "An Act to substitute in certain cases other punishment in lieu of transportation . " He wished to define and limit the inquiry , so that the . committee might devote itself to some particular object ; but ho was ready to insert -words vvbioh should secure the power of the committee to inquire into all subjects having reference to secondary punishments . Mi * . Scott ' s statements with respect to the increase of crime were exaggerated ; aud , as regards the police swveillaAtce , the officers had been dircctod not to prevent convicts obtaining situations . Tho latter

    were oniy watched whon they associated with bad characters . —Sir John Pakington thought it would bo injudicious to abandon the system of tickets-ofleavo ; and ho therefore recommended Mr . Scott to be content with tho amendment ; proposed by the Government . —Mr . Laboucukkk said that all able-bodied convicts now sentenced to transportation arc despatched to Western Australia—tho only colony where they can be sent , and whore they arc uaofxil . —Mr . AnomuLicY reminded tho House that a considerable part of tho act—namoly , that which authorises the Qovormnqut to grant liconaca to persons transported

    —hiw not yot oume into operation . Ho did not boliovo that Western Auatrulia could tako more than nino hundred oonvieUj iu a yoav . Complaints had boon msulo that , notwithstanding our penal lagialation tho criminal returns show no clooroane of crime . H < thought that no penal loginlatiou could have tho , " eil'oot . They munt rnthor look to oduoatiou , proven tivo lnoiiuuroti , improved polico regulations , uud rofot nmtory institutions , i > ir producing bo duairablo a result { llcivr , lucar . ) A marked hnpi'ovomont had follower ou tho adoption of the late Sir Robert Pool ' s improve naout of our criminal code j and tho efforts which ha * since been uiihIo for the improvement of priaon diso

    FIRE INSURANCES . The CHA . NCELLOB OF THE EXCHEQUER ( with a view to bringing in a bill ) moved a resolution for including under the stamp duty payable to Government on fire insurance offices all the " agencies" of foreign offices established in this country . —After a slight discussion , this was agreed to . —The Chancellor of the Exchequer also obtained leave to bring in a bill to continue for a limited period , cortain compositions payable to bankers who have ceased to issue banknotes . The report of the Committee of Supply was bx'ought up and agreed to . The Courts of Cojmmon La . w ( Ireland ) Bill passed through committee . Wednesday , April 2 nd . MEDICAL PROFESSION BILL .

    In the House of Commons , on the order for going into committee on this bill , Lord Robe et Grosvenob apj > ealed to Mr . Headlani to postpone the committee , out of consideration for the vast number of amendments—amounting to nearly one hundred , and some of them touching the principle of the measure—which had been proposed at a late period . —Mr . Bakrow concurred in this suggestion .- —Mr . Headlam declined to accede to the proposal . Delay would be inconvenient , and would not be likely to harmonise the different opinions with respect to the constitution of

    the Medical Council , the majority of the numbers of which , the Government amendment proposed should be nominated by the Crown ; and that was the chief amendments—Considerable discussion followed , which was interrupted by an amendment moved by Mr . Waxpole , in favour of postponement for a week . This was carried by 116 to 81 . —Mr . Headlaji complained that the Government had thrown him over by proposing their amendment at a late hour ; and he left the bill in their bauds . —Sir George Grey refused to take charge of it , or to introduce another ; and Mr . Walpole recommended Mr . Headlam to refer his bill

    to a Select Committee . factories' bill . Colonel Wilson Patten moved the second reading of this bill , the object of which was to place the gearing and shafting of mill-machinery on the same footing ! aa the machinery itself . It is now compulsory ou the manufacturer to fence the shafting , whether or not it is in a position likely to seize the workmen ' s clothes and endanger their lives . This subjects the master to great hardship and to vexatious proceedings at the hands of the factory inspectors ; and he is often mulcted in large aiiiounts . Still , the present measure would not abate any of tho necessary safeguards for the workman . —Mr . Cobbett moved to

    defer the second reading for six mouths , arguing that tho measure was ono which it would bo impolitic in the House to pass , inasmuch us it woxild endanger tho lives aud limbs of people employed in factories , by diminishing tho securities provided by tho existing law for tho guarding niul fencing of machinery . —Lord John Manners cordially seoondort this amendment . —Mr . Milneii Giusou supported tho measure , which , ho thoTighb , would place the operatives iu a better position . Judges , as well as inspectors ; differed , in their construction of the present law ; bub this bill

    provided thai ; tho law should bo camod out b y tho impartial docisiou of arbitrators . —Sir Giscmaia Guky said ( hero wan no doubt tluifc tho prosout law was uncertain ; hut ., on tho otlior hand , tho proposed measure would deprive the operatives of their rightful protection . If Colonel 1 ' atton would oonuout to such modifications of tho bill , which he- ( Sir George ) ¦ undertook to arrange with him , as would phxco all tho mill-gearing now subject to dirtputo undo ? tho 43 rd Hootlonof tho act 7 th itnd 8 th of Victoria , ho should fool it hie duty not to object to tho aocoud roiviiug of tho bill .

    Lord StandsY , on tho piu-t of Colonel PnUon and on bin owu behalf , consented to adopt tho niodiuautiouw proposed by Sir Goorgo Gray . Ho ropliod to objections offered to tho Tuill . —Mr . Hardy complained that Sir Georgo Q roy'ii proponitioiiB- would leave tho

    quosla the selections made , there could be no favouritism , inasmuch as tlie names of the persons were not appended to their representations ; and , with tie exception of one name—that of a gentleman whose claims were- paramount—he ( Mr . Wilson ) knew nothing of who the respective claimants were . The ¦ whole matter was arranged through the instrumentality of numbers . —Sir John Pakingtont appealed to Mr . Roebuck to withdraw his motion . —Sir George Pecheld and Mr . Malins defended the motion . — Mr . Gladstone said it appeared to him that it might be

    a great question whether , on a reconstruction of the duties of the office of the County Court Judge-¦ with the addition of other functions , there ought not to be an alteration of their salaries ; but , with the knowledge that fit men could he found to occupy that office , and who sought to occupy it , at even £ 1 , 200 ayear , it was a question which , iu his opinion , ought to he kept open for discussion . — -Mr . Disraeli thought that in the state of our finances it would not be wise for the House to pledge itself as to the amount of salary to be paid to any public servants . —Mr . Roe-BTXOK then withdrew his motion .

    3 fEM 0 VAX OP IRISH AND SCOTCH PAUPERS . Mr . BouvERra moved for leave to bring in a bill to amend the law respecting the removal of Irish and Scotch paupers . Under the present system , these paupers ( when they have not resided in England five years ) can be taken in a ship to certain ports—eight in Ireland , and nine in Scotland—and can then be put on shore and left to shifb for themselves , though they- may be far away from their own parishes . This was a great hardship . In England , when a person applied for relief , and it was foundthat he was removable , notice was given to the parish to which he belonged , accompanied by a statement of the grounds of removal .

    Twenty-one days must then elapse before the pauper could be sent to the place where he had a sefctlefcienL In the meantime , that parish might require the depositions upon which the magistrates had granted the order of removal ; and , if they saw fit , they mijjht appeal to the quarter sessions of the dis trict in which the removing parish was situaied . That was the plan he proposed to adopt with regard to Scotch and Irish poor . A notice of thirty days must be given , and the parish on which it was served might have an appeal . He also proposed , that when a pauper wa 3 removed he should be taken to the worklxouse of the union to which he belonged , instead of being tumbled out upon the quay of the nearest port , to shift for himself . ( Hear , hear . )

    Mr . W . Williams feared it would be perfectly impossible , owing to tlie difficulty of getting information from Irish paupers , to carry out the proposed airangements . —Mr . Y . Scully observed , that the procedure under the English law of settlement was inapplicable to Ireland , where there was no such thing as a ltuv of settlement . —Sir "W . Jolliffu recommended that tho bill should bo referred to a Select Committoe , —Some further criticism having been offered by Mr . Floyer , Mr . Bainks , Mr . Kwight , and Mr . Dis Vjsius , leave was given to bring in tlio bill .

    REFORM OP THE CORPORATION OP LONDON . Sir GJCOR 013 Grey moved for leave to introduce a bill for the bettor regulation of tho City of London . Ho trusted that tho corporation would give the Government credit for approaching this important question in no spirit of disrospect or unfriondlinosa towards that great and ancient body , which was ontitlod to every connidemfcion , both on tho ground of its antiquity and on that of tho many services it has rendered at various periods to tlie cause of civil and religious liberty . Tho object of tho mosxsuro was not to diminish the dignity of tho corporation , but ruthor to strengthen its innuenoo by vcmodymo : its dofoots ,

    and by bringing it more into harmony with tho roquiromunta of tho age . Tho bill was mainly grounded on tho report of the oommiBaionorH rxppointod in 1853—a roporfc which , it was but right to aay , wao grcutly facilitated by tho wllliugne-sB to give information on tho purt of gontlomon oounootod with tho corporation . The corporation will oontinuo to oonsieb of Mayor , Aldormun , and Common Council . Tho number of wnrdfi will bo roduood from 2 G to 16 j ouch ward to return an Aldonnnn and five Common Counoilmon , making 90 , instead of 282 as tvfc present . Tho Aldormon , instead of being elected for life , will be elected for six yoai-a , ono-half to retire every thxoo yearn . The Common . Oounoilmon will

    Untitled Article

    April 5 , 1856 . ] THE LEADER . 317

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), April 5, 1856, page 317, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2135/page/5/