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    fled with having called the attention of the House to the subject . ¦¦¦¦ . ' ¦ After some personal explanations on the part of Mr . Mangles and Lord John Russell ., Mr . Thomas Baking spoke to various points connected with the proceedings before the Select Committee which sat four years ago on the affairs of India , and which Mr . Disraeli had impugned in the course of his reply . Mr . Baring expressed a-total dissent from the course taken by Mr . Disraeli . —Lord Palmerston expressed his regret that a member

    occupying so prominent a position as Mr . Disraeli should have adopted so mischievous a course . The course taken by Xord John Russell showed that he justly estimated the feeling of the House and of the country . —In answer to Sir John Pakington , the Premier offered to produce such extracts from Sir Charles Napier ' s papers as had been referred to in the course of the debate . —Mr . Disraeli remarked that he should be satisfied with extracts . —General Thompson briefly observed that no notice had been taken in the debate of a breach of military faith and honour towards the native soldiers .

    The motion was then . negatived without a division , and the amendment was agreed to . The Municipal Corporations Bill , the Lunatics ( Scotland ) Bill , and the Oxford University Bill , were respectively read a third time , and passed . The House adjourned at two o ' clock .

    Tuesday , July 28 th . In the House of Lords , the Fraudulent Trustees Sill was read a second time on the motion of the Lord Chancellor , after a brief debate , in which Lords St . Leonards , Brougham , and Wensleydale expressed a . general approval of the measure , while suggesting improvements in the details . The Prisoners' Removal Bill , the Portland Harbour Bill , and the Chatham Lands , &c , Bill , - were read a third time , and passed .

    MILITIA BALLOT SUSPENSION BILL . On this bill being committed , the Earl of Ellenborough suggested the postponement of . the measure , because it was impossible to say what might occur within the next fortnight to render it necessary to strengthen the defences of the country . —Lord Panmure did not see any reason for postponing the measure . Any man who would attempt to put into execution the compulsory ballot for the militia would entirely fail . —The Earl of Ellknborough : " Then why should it remain on the statute-book at all ?"—Viscount Dungannon also urged the expediency of postponing the measure ; but the suggestion was not adopted .

    PARLIAMENTARY RETURNS . The Duke of Newcastle called the attention of the Government to the propriety of supplying free libraries and other literary institutions with the reports and returns published by Parliament . —The Duke of Argyll admitted that the subject was well worthy of consideration , but thought it would be attended with certain difficulties .

    IRISH PETTY SESSION ACT . Viscount Dungannon asked the Lord Chancellor whether it is contemplated in the next session to alter and amend the present Petty Sessional Acts of Ireland , so as to assimilate them to those now in force in England and Wales . —The Lord Chancellor said it is the intention of the Irish Attorney-General to introduce a bill next session to consolidate the Irish Acts , but he did not think it would be fit in every case to assimilate them to the laws now in force in this country . There were circumstances in Ireland to prevent it , and in some respects the Irish system is superior . The House adjourned at a quartor to seven o'clock . DOVER ELECTION .

    In the House of Commons , at the morning sitting , the Speaker announced that he had received intimations that it was not intended to proceed with the petition against the return for Dover , or that against the Bovcrley election . The Lords' amendments to the Manchester Corporation Bill were considered and agreed to .

    GENERAL BOARD OF HBAT / TH BILL . On the order for going into committee on this bill , Sir "George Grey said it was not his intention to persevere 'in making the measure permanent , but he would propose in the committee to make it a continuance bill , extending the Act of 1848 for another year , and transferring the powers of the General Board of Health to a Committee of the Privy Council . —Mr . Knight moved to defer the second reading of the bill for three months . . — . This motion was supported by Sir George Pkohell and Mr . Palk . —Mr . Cowtper instated upon the sanitary improvements and the reduction of mortality which had

    resulted from the working of the present law , and upon the necessity of a superintending authority in this department , —Sir Geoiigb Grey offered to limit the continuance of the act until a specific date , and named the lat of September , 1856 . —After a discussion of some length , the House divided , whon Mr . Knight ' s motion 'was negatived by 08 to 78 , and the House wont into 'committee on the bill . —In the committee an opposition was raised to the trans for of the powers of the board to a Committee of the Privy Council , and Sir George Grey ultimately consented to the chairman leaving the choir , with the view of introducing a simple continuance 1 > U 1 without a transfer of powers .

    The House then resumed , and shortly afterwards adjourned for the evening . PURIFICATION OF THE THAMES . In the evening , Sir Benjamin Hall , in answer to questions by Mr . Ridley and Mr . Butler , said that , under the provisions of the Act of 1855 , it was determined that intercepting sewers should be constructed to divert the sewage from the Thames , the works to be carried out by the Metropolitan Board of Works ; but the plans were to be previously submitted to the First Commissioner of Works for approval . Not a day had been lost by the Government in reference to the matter .

    Plans were sent in to him on the 22 nd of December ; and on the 29 th he referred them to engineers who had since had them under consideration . He was happy to say that he had this day seen one of the referees , and he believed that their report would be delivered to him in a few days . ' As soon as he received it , he would forward a copy to the Metropolitan Board of Works , and he thought it would be convenient also to lay a copy on the table of the House . No delay in the interception of the sewage from the Thames had taken place on his part ; and he had no doubt that the Metropolitan Board of Works would give the subject their earliest consideration .

    BOUNDARY OF MORETON BAY . In reply to Sir James Elphinstone , Mr . Labouchere corrected an error he had made on a previous evening with respect to the boundaries of Moreton Bay . The boundary line would run , not , as he then stated , between the 25 th and 26 th degrees of south latitude , but between the 28 th and 29 th degrees . THE LITURGY . Lord Robert Gbosvenob postponed till next session his motion for an address to the Queen to appoint a commission to copsider whether the Liturgy of the Church of England be not capable of modification .

    MILITARY INSTRUCTION . Sir Db Lacy Evans proposed the following resolutions : — " That , in the opinion of this House , a higher standard of professional instruction , and more complete provision for it than hitherto deemed requisite , ought to be established for the commissioned ranks of the army , but especially for the staff ; that this will be best promoted by recourse to competitive examination of officers desiring to qualify themselves for the * staff , by adopting the same principle with such qualification as may be necessary in examination of candidates nominated by the commander-in-chief for commissions in the cavalry and infantry ; by preserving the present system of admission of cadets for the Ordnance Corps ; by assured encouragements for proficiency and general fitness for

    advancement ; and by appointment of commissioners or a council of military and civilian members , empowered to direct the measures for accomplishing these objects . " He supported these suggestions in a speech of some length . — -Mr . Bass seconded the motion . —Sir F . Smith thought a high standard of education not required for officers of the line . —General Wtodham said he had noticed in the field that officers who ranked high for intellectual attainments turned out the worst . —Sir William Williams assured the House that the apprehensions of Sir De Lacy Evans as to the influence of favouritism in the examinations were groundless . The abolition of purchase would inevitably increase the influence of patronage . —Mr . Palk supported the accusations of favouritism by special instances within his knowledge .

    Sir John Ramsden said he believed that sufficient attention had not hitherto been paid-to the education of the officers of the army . The Government were fully aware of the importance of this defect , and of the duty they owed to the country , to the soldier , and to the officer himself , to provide a remedy for it . They were accordingly engaged in preparing a comprehensive schome of military education , which ( hey confidently hoped would deserve the approbation of the House . The main features of the schemo were that the examination to which all officers nominated by the commanderin-ohicf for direct appointments were subjected would be more severe ; that the examinations would be quarterly , in London , under the direction of the Council of Education ; and that they would be conducted by military and civil examiners . The competitive principle would be adopted . Under theso circumstances he hoped Sir Do Lacy would not press his resolutions .

    Colonel North was glad to hear that the examinations for the Ordnance Corps -were to be removed to London . He hoped they would be spread over two days instead , of being crowded into one , and that the examiners would encourage the boys to answer , and not frighten them . Many boys now failed through fright . —Lord Stanley thought it desirable that young men should not bo induced to consider their professional education finished whon they entered the army , but that

    there should bo examinations at a later period . —Mr . Sidney Herbert Bald he did not fear that the standard of education in tho army would ever bo placed too high . On tho contrary , the tendency would be to lower whatever standard was act up . ( JKear , hear . ") TUqlr object waa to have the lost officers thoy could , no matter from what olaes they came . It was moat important that thoro should bo a permanent body of examiners , oloar-headed , practical men , who would tost the capability of those who camo before ( Shorn , and determine whether their

    attainments were the result of' cram' or diligent personal study . He hoped in the staff examinations would be included the personal staff , especially the aides-de-camp , who , by some , were regarded as the twopenny postmen of the army . { Laughter . ')—Major Warburton trusted that the system , now being inaugurated would be fully carried out . —General Codrington said that , where regiments were in the colonies , it would be hard to expect that officers should come home for examination . An officer requires peculiar qualities ; and they should take

    care that men practically efficient in their profession should not be passed over , while men of mere literary and scientific attainments were advanced . — Colonel Syices said that they did not require their officers to be literary coxcombs , but practical men . —Lord Alfred Chukchill said that an officer should , above all t hings , be a gentleman . The men would not have a sufficient degree of respect for a man who had Arisen from thenown ranks . But it would be desirable to offer , from time to time in our great public schools , a certain number of commissions for competition .

    Lord Palmerston thought that the first examination of a young man entering the army ought to be a test of his education and intellectual qualities . When he got his commission and entered the army , his commanding officer would judge of his qualities , and then would come the competitive examination for the staff , and arrangements would be made that the standard should not fall below the proper point . The resolution before the House went to make an affirmation of points still under consideration ; and , although , generally speaking , he agreed with the principles upon which the resolutions were founded , he submitted to Sir De Lacy Evans whether he would either leave the matter in the hands of the Government or modify the resolutions so as to affirm the general principles , without tying down the Government to particular details , which might be inconvenient . —Sir De Lacy Evans modified the resolutions accordingly , and in their amended shape they were agreed to .

    THE BANK ACTS . In answer to Mr . Greer and Mr . Buchanan , the Chancellor of the Exchequer said that the Select Committee on the Bank Acts had agreed to report the evidence . —Mr . Greer withdrew a motion on the subject , of which he bad given notice .

    NEW WRITS FOR GALWAY AND MAYO . Colonel French moved that a new writ do issue for the borough of Gal way . — Mr . George Clive , the chairman of the committee whose decision had unseated Mr . O'Flaherty , moved , by the direction of the committee , as an amendment , " That this House do pray her Majesty to cause an inquiry to be made into the existence of corrupt practices during the last as well as former elections for the county of the town of Gal way . " —Mr . J . D . Fitzgerald supported the amendment , referring to the report of the committee , which stated that systematic bribery had prevailed at the last and previous elections at Galway . —After a short discussion , the motion was negatived and the amendment agreed to .

    Colonel French then moved for a new writ for the county of Mayo . —Mr . Scholefield called attention to the fifth resolution of the select committee on the Mayo county election , and moved , us an amendment , that the Attornej ' -General for Ireland bo directed thereon to prosecute the Rev . Peter Conway a , nd the Rev . Luke Ryan . —A long and somewhat warm debate ensued , terminating in a division , by which the original motion was negatived by 153 to 29 . —Mr , Scholefield ' s amendment was then put as a substantive motion , whereupon Mr . Brady moved that the House do adjourn ; but , upon a division , this motion was negatived by 149 to 16 . —Mr . Scholefield ' s motion was then agreed to .- —Mr . Soiiolefield afterwards moved that the writ for tho

    county of Mayo bo suspended during the present session ; and this was carried , upou a division , by 128 to 21 . The House adjourned at a quarter to three o ' clock . Wednesday , July 2 dth . Tho House of Commons having resolved itself into a committee on tho Smoick Nuisance ( Scotland ) Abatement Bill , tho clauses wore agreed to , after discussion , with certain amendments .

    SUPERANNUATION ACT AMENDMENT BILL . Mr . Rich ( on the resumption of tho adjourned debate on the second reading of this bill ) continued his argument against tho measure , which ho opposed as imperfect in its framework , unjust iu its operations , quite unnecessary , based upon erroneous statements , involving » needless and extravagant expenditure of public money , and recognizing and encouraging a breach of contract . — Lord Naas replied to some of tho asaertlons made by Mr . Wilson in tho previous debate , maintaining , in oppoBition to him , that tho contributions of the civil

    servants have been far moro than equivalent to tho pensions paid ; that tho civil servants are not by any moans well remunerated ; and that it was altogether erroneous to euppoBO that , if the bill woro pnssod , thoro would be a groat dofioionoy iu 1891 , to bo supplied by Parliament . On tho contrary , there would bo n largo sum in favour of tho Exohequor . —Mr . Qudstowb observed that , notwithstanding tho disclaimer of Lord Nnas , his bill Involved a goncrnl increase of salaries-This might load to a demand on tho part of tho political officers of tho state for an increase of their salaries . Thoro appeared to bo already a tendency in that a >

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    „„ £ TH E -L E A . DER . ___ _ [ Nov 38 Ji , Augtist 1 , 1857 .

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 1, 1857, page 724, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2203/page/4/