POSTSCRIPT.
SATURDAY NIGHT.
Both Houses of Parliament were busily occupied last night.
In the Lords, Earl RIPON, in reply to questions by the Marquis of CLANRICARDE, said there was no truth in the statements contained in the papers received by the last India mail, of the collection of an army of 80,000 men on the frontiers of the Punjaub. He pledged himself that neither the Government here nor that in India had the slightest idea of conquest on the North-west or any other point of the British territory of India.
The Bank Charter Bill [read a first time in this House on the 5tle instant, and a second time on the 9th, both without remark,] was con- sidered in Committee, on the motion of the Earl of RIPON, who ex- plained its provisions. Lord MONTEAGLE expressed his approbation of the general principles of the bill ; especially as he conceived it was an approximation to the establishment of a single bank of issue. He ob- jected, however, that the bill was not calculated to meet the evils which would arise from a drain of gold at home, though it would coun- teract the effects of a drain from foreign countries. Lord AsunetairoN considered the measure as a great experiment, which he feared would not answer so well as its promoters expected. There were greater diffi- culties attending the adjustment of the circulating medium than those who dogmatized about the matter supposed ; nor did he think the pre- sent measure was calculated to settle the question satisfactorily. The Earl of RADNOR regarded the present bill as an application to the cur- rency of the principle of the sliding scale that had been applied to the duties on corn ; and neither would succeed.
The bill went through Committee, without any division.
In the Commons, the Poor-law Amendment Bill occupied the greater part of the night, in Committee. Many amendments were proposed, and three divisions were taken ; but large majorities confirmed the original clauses. A long discussion took place on the clause constituting ez officio Guardians ; Mr. BORTHWICH having proposed to include the parochial clergy ; which Sir JAMES GRAHAM resisted, as unsuitable to the clerical character. Mr. C. WOOD moved an amendment on the 28th clause, to the effect that the appointment of Auditors should reside with. the Commissioners instead of the Guardians : negatived on a division, by 132 to 39. Captain PECHELL then moved that this clause should not apply to Unions under local acts : negatived by 139 to 33. The bill proceeded as far as the thirty-fourth clause; when the Chairman re- ported progress.
The Actions for Gaming Discontinuance Bill was read a third time, and passed.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM brought in a bill for the better administration of criminal justice in Middlesex. The effect of the measure will be to give Middlesex Magistrates jurisdiction in Westminster ; to hold the ad- journed Quarter-sessions twice every month ; and to provide a separate prison, so as to relieve Newgate. The Magistrates had consented that the appointment of Chairman should vest in the Crown. The bill was read a first time.
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