Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 24th April 1858, Edition 1 of 2, Page 389

Page 389
Page 5
5 of 24

On this page

  • Text (3)

      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

    • Untitled Article

      Untitled Article

    • 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

      he was engaged in the preparation of a bill for harmonizing the law throughout Great Britain on the subject of probates and letters of administration . CHELSEA NEW BRIDGE AND THE MARBLE ARCH . In reply to questions from Sir John Shelley , Lord John Manners said a bill was being prepared for meeting the requirements of the public with respect to Chelsea Bridge , and that he had given up all intention of putting a clock on the Marble Arch , from which the paper face would be taken down . DECIMAL COINAGE . Replying to Mr . Bland , the Chancellor of the Exchequer said it was not in his power to hold out any prospect of a final report on decimal coinage . PENNY STAMPS . Sir Edward Buxton asked what number of penny bill and receipt stamps were issued during the last financial year . —The Chancellor of the Exchequer said the subject was one for a motion of returns , rather than a question to a Minister . He was , however , prepared to answer the question , by stating that the number of bill stamps was 660 , 000 ; receipt and check stamps , about 73 , 000 , 000 . { Laughter . ) DIPLOMATIC SALARIES AND PENSIONS . Mr . Wise moved " That it is the opinion of the House that the diplomatic salaries and pensions , now charged upon the Consolidated Fund , should be brought under the more immediate view and control of Parliament , and be paid out of a vote , annually provided by the House of Commons for the purpose . " Disclaiming any intention of making personal attacks , Mr . Wise denounced the extravagance and uselessness of our diplomatic system . The expenses of the service are no less annually than 320 , 258 / ., while last year they amounted to 483 , 000 £ " The Paris embassy house had cost the country 87 , 000 / ., and last year we were told that 20 , 000 / . were required for repairs . The house at Constantinople cost 90 , 000 / . for its completion , though the estimate was 73 , 000 / . At various places , the nation furnishes ambassadors with a service of plate ; and this is not generally known . The extraordinary expenses are gradually increasing , and last year they were 37 , 500 / . Independently of salaries , these expenses daring the last ten years amounted to 208 , 000 / . We had also spent upwards of 200 , 000 / . since the reign of George IV . in foreign chapels . Chaplains' salaries amount to 1500 / . a year . In the East , 6000 / . a year are spent on dragomans . France , Prussia , Austria , and Russia take care to educate their own people for the work of translators and interpreters ; England alone has to depend on the fidelity of foreign interpreters . " Degrees should be established in our Universities for acquaintance with modern languages ; and the Oriental tongues , in particular , are very important . It would be well , also , to adopt the French system of pupil consulships , by which a man might be trained to the performance of the higher duties . Mr . Setmour Fitzgerald admitted that the subject was one of great importance ; but he thought it was undesirable to introduce the change contemplated by the motion—that of handing the charges in question over to the annual estimates . All the instances that had been complained of as extravagance had occurred in the items which are now voted annually , while proper economy characterizes the expenditure chargeable on the Consolidated Fund . It was not correct to say that the diplomatic service is a refuge for incompetent patricians ; and nothing would be more invidious than to bring the diplomatic . service under the control of Parliament . If we had had a diplomutic representative at Naples , the -whole course of events respecting the Cagliari would have been different . Mr . White said that by adopting the resolution they would bring the consular service under the purview of Parliament ; and thoreforc ho was in favour of it . —Mr . Horsman observed that under the present system the House is in n stato of ignorance of our foreign affairs , inconsistent witli the principles of constitutional government , and that Mr . Fitzgerald had not resisted the motion upon constitutional grounds . —Lord Palmersxon said the motion tended to reverse a decision deliberately come to us to the mode in which diplomatic salaries nnd pension * should be paid . Secret diplomacy , ns it wna called , might bo defended on constitutional grounds . Parliament must either place confidence in the Ministers of the Crown iu regard to our foreign relations , or appoint a standing commit too of diplomatic relations ; ami tlio latter alternative heregurded i \ a neither coiiBtitutioiiul nor desirable . " There could not possibly bo a wowu engine for Ui | iloinntic transactions than a popular nuiiumbly . Nothing could prevent them from putting into ropoutud dWliciiltie . s m » il disputes , They bad an instance of tlini in the cnso of Franco and America . A question avoaa between the two Governments which wan m-izi'il hold of ' *> " tliu llrt ~ H S 01 nlJli 5 S ^^ 15 otir ^ inB 5 TJrTlW ^ AiliriirJB ^ -niHi-il * ivhiuUi » ot been for very oai'iicut exertion * vn the i »« i * t of friendly Towers , Unit question iniiHt have iiioducoil a very scrioua rupture boUvooii tbu two countries . Without going further back , if thoru was at Unit moment n popular aHsoinbly > ' > . ^ nineo , oxor ~ claing the power of discussing public affairs , tho relations between England and Franco might now bo

      very different from those which happily exist . As observed by Mr . Horsman , it was impossible that diplomatic transactions could , be made public while they were in progress , and , when the result was come to , it was made known to Parliament . If Parliament thought it right to call upon the Government to account for its conduct , why then , according to constitutional usage , Parliament could interfere and call upon the Minister to answer for the transactions . If there was an annual debate on the salaries of our diplomatic agents , it would do those agents great harm at foreign courts , where their influence would thus be lowered . —Mr . Kinnaird declared that neither the Government nor Lord Palmerston had answered the hon . gentleman who had brought forward the motion . —Lord John Russell said he was content with the present mode of paying their diplomatic agents . At the same time , he thought there ought to be a general division of the diplomatic service . ( i / iear . ) He was against the system of unpaid attaches and he thought that diplomatic papers ought to be more fre ^ quently submitted to the House . The House then divided , when there appeared—For the motion 114 Against it 142 Majority against 28 DESTITUTION IN DONEGAL . Mr . Bagwell , moved for a Select Committee to inquire into the destitution in Donegal , the northern part of which county , he said , is a wild , mountainous district , in which there is a great deal of very bad land . The people , according to the evidence of Lord G . Hill , are quiet and inoffensive , but in a rude state of society . He read statements showing their miserable condition , which , he contended , called for inquiry . —Sir E . Hayes referred to nn orficial report , which showed that the representations of certain Roman Catholic priests , upon which Mr . Bagwell had relied , were without foundation . He did not" object to a fair inquiry . —Mr . Macartney protested against the motion . The inquiry , in his opinion , could end in no good . —Mr . PuterO'Brien supported the motion . —Lord Naas read various statements , including evidence taken by Mr . Hamilton , who was directed by the late Government to make inquiry into this matter , contradicting and refuting the representations of the Roman Catholic clergymen . He did not oppose the motion for a committee , and hoped the inquiry would elicit the truth . —After some further debate , the House divided , and the motion was carried by 147 to 111 .

      FIRST READINGS . Mr . Locke King obtained leave to bring in a bill to abolish the property qualification of members of Parliament . The Lord-Advocate obtained leave to bring in a bill to make provision for the better government and discipline of the Universities of Scotland , and improving and regulating the course of study therein ; and for the union of the two Universities and Colleges of Aberdeen . Lord Gooerich obtained leave to bring in a bill to provide for the general registration of partnerships , the object of which is to require that all persons engaged in trade , in partnership , or under the style of a company , not within the provisions of the Joint-Stock Companies Act , or carrying on trade under any other name than their own , should give the public exact information who and what they are . Mr . Addkblev obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the Public Health Act , 1848 . This , he said , would not be a mere Continuance Bill ; not repealing the existing law , it would decentralize the whole system by establishing local boards , embodying tlie new provisions with the law of 1848 . These bills were read a first time . The consideration of Lord Palmicrston ' s India Bill was postponed for a fortnight . CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ACT AMENDMENT HILL . Lord Raynham moved the second reading of this bill —Mr . Secretary Walpolic opposed tho bill , on the ground that tho Act 12 and 13 Vic . cap . 92 , which the first clause proposed to repeal , meets all tho objects for which it was intended , nnd that the noble- Lords measure would not accomplish tho objects which ho had in view He moved Hint it bo read a second time that day six months . —Mr . Ayuton hoped that Lord linynham would not press his measure , which , while protecting animal * , inllk-lert cruelty , in the shape of pains and penalties , upon man . —Sir J . Ea . st also opposed tho bill , which was rejected without u division . CllUKOlt-ltATKS ABOLITION HIM .. Tho ndjounied debate upon thin bill wiw postponed . — Mr Ayuton giivu notk-u ( hat the lion . Member lor Tavlrttook ( Sir John Trelawnev ) would , on thu following day . «« k thu Clmiiccllorof Hie Exchequer whether he could make armn ^ oineiitH for a d « y upon winch the jjjvijjlou could bo taken . l'KUMUUU'TION ( UUCLAM ?) nTi . L . - " — - " - ' This bill wan withdrawn , Mr . Wiiitkhiih-: undertaking to deal with tho subject at a future period . WAYS ANI > MKAN 8 . Tho report of tho committee was brought up and agreed to .

      BOYDELl / s TBACIION ENGINE . On the motion of Mr . Garnet , there was ordered a copy of the report upon the capabilities of BoycJell ' s traction engine , made by Sir Frederick Abbott , last February , to the Hon . East India Company . EXCHEQUER BILLS . The Exchequer Bills ( 20 , 91 . 1 , 500 / . ) Bill . Was read a second time . CHANCERY AMENDMENT BILL . Upon the motion for the second reading , Sir Richabd Beth ell said , he thought the bill was open to certain amendments as to the proceedings with respect to assess damages . He should be happy to co-operate with his hon . and learned friend ia any step he might take to render the bill a perfect measure . — The Solicitor-General proposed to take the second reading then , and afterwards to go into committee pro Jbrma , with a view to the introduction of certain amendments which had been suggested . —The bill was then read a second time . The House adjourned at half-past twelve o ' clock .

      Untitled Article

      THE INTERNATIONAL HOTEL . It is a mortifying fact that , with our wonderfully developed powers of locomotion , with our constantly increasing intercourse all over the world , we are , in respect of accommodation for travellers , far behind other countries . Excepting only the Great Western Hotel , we have no establishments of the sort that can for a moment challenge comparison with the magnificent " travellers ' , homes " of Paris , New York , Boston , and New Orleans . It is almost a national reproach . We go to all those places , upon business or pleasure , and we return full of admiration at these perfections of hotelconvenience ; when foreigners return to their own countries we know that it is impossible for them to express any admiration for our formal , dear , and comfortless hotels . But we have made one move towards a better state of things , and we are about to make a second and more important move . The first was an experiment , the success of which has put our power to realize a first-rate hotel beyond doubt or question ; the second will amply confirm our confidence , and go far to redeem us from the mortifying consequences of our old ill-reputation . The scheme of a vast international hotel , which for perfection of detail shall be entitled to comparison with the very grandest of the French and American establishments , has just been published . The promoters of this scheme frankly state that the entire success of the Great Western Hotel has incited them to attempt to supply a remedy for a great public want ; their plan is certainly one of high promise , and , as we believe , of practicability . A site has been chosen which seems to embrace every possible advantage . It is intended to occupy the plot of ground on which the Lyceum Theatre now stands . The hotel building is to have " a frontage of 800 feet , abutting on the Strand , Burleigh-street , Exeter-street , and Wellington-street , " the ground story being devoted to first-class shops . The hotel accommodation will provide 230 sleeping-rooms , with a proportionate number of private sitting-rooms . There will be a daily table d'hote in a magnificent salle- a-manger ; coffee and rea lingrooms for ladies and gentlemen ; billiard , smoking , and chess-rooms . In short , tlie prospectus of the projectors tells us , " this hotel will unite all the comforts and conveniences of internal arrangement , us at the best clubs in London , and ia the leading hotels on the Continent and in America . " Tho want of such an hotel as is here promised is pressing . Money is cheap , and even if the pro / ils should fall short of tho expectations of those who huvo made tho estimate , they must necessarily be handsome ; while tho nature of the property would offer an excellent permanent and indestructible security to tho shareholder . If tho Great Western Hotel is so entirely successful that it is always fulj , there can bo little ground to fear that an hotel evon more complete in its organization , and having iufinito local advantages , will not meet with ample patronage . Its central position will at once point it out to tho traveller as the lodging most convenient in point of situation . From its doors ho will be within a shilling ride of all tho railways but two , the Groat Western , and tho Eastern Counties . All the public offices , and all tho lending places of amusement , will He within a circuit of about a niilo of lib resting-place j ho will bo but a low niiiiutctTfrom tho two groat centres of buslno .-in and pleasure—tlie ' City , ' and tho West End . Hut there are other ooiifllilorationa no loan bearing upon tho traveller ' s convenience . In the International Hotel , an in the Iirout Westorn Hotel , there will bo u fixed tariff « f oliartfu * , ami tho promoters pledge thomsolvoH that tliese Hhull be inoilenite ; the traveller will have at his command every luxury mid cuuvoiiieueo , and at tho same time will lie enabled to regulate hi .- ) oxpeimoti to a aliillinu" a result that at . oncu dooa away with the old imrbui'Mw-ustuBttauiuuHUIl ^^ tfVMlciii , which wo huvo » u long grumbled at and borne Thin , too , it * a eoiivonioHOO that appeals to a inuoU larger olufld ' I ban the traveller properly ho called ; and a wellconducted hotel and tavoru should Indeed provide , not only for the traveller , but for tho nuinoroua elaaa of tho traveller ' s frieuda , and the still more numerous class of

      Untitled Article

      Xo . 422 , Aprii . 24 , 1858 . ] THE LEADE It . 3 S 9

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), April 24, 1858, page 389, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2240/page/5/