POSTSCRIPT.

SATURDAY.

Ministers are again in a mess, and the disclosure was volunteered by Lord J onar RUSSELL last night. Alarmed at Mr. Baillie's motion of cen- sure on the Ceylon affair, they are going to put off the financial state- ment and the Income-tax, until after Mr. Baillie's debate on the 25th; admitting that his success would be fatal to the Cabinet. The patent facts suggest two motives for such a course. The first motive is this it was feared that Mr. Baillie might carry his motion, which must have been fatal to Lord Grey : by covering Lord Grey with the whole interest of the Cabinet, Ministers would at once render a defeat more unlikely, since nobody wishes to precipitate a new crisis, while it would reconsolidate, perhaps for future advantage, the somewhat shaken alliance with Lord Grey. The other motive is apparent in Lord John's whole course : he is putting off every critical measure, as far as he can; he will probably take what money he can get, "for carrying on the public service," and will then huddle up his principal hazardous mea- sures, hoping to carry them through by favour of the hurry to finish this session, and of the paroxysm of forbearance towards a Ministry whom all parties are trying to keep alive for the season.

Lord Joarr RUSSELL stated that he did not intend to go on with the Estimates on Monday if the Ecclesiastical Titles debate should be ad- journed, but to proceed on Monday with the adjourned debate. The Chancellor of the Exchequer would not proceed with the financial state- ment on the 21st, nor with the Income-tax on the 24th.

"In the mean time, as there is a vote of censure against the Govern- ment now pending, I hope honourable Members who have notices for the 25th—the night for which that resolution stands—will give way, in order that a question directly. affecting the fate of the Government may be brought to an issue. I likewise must say that I do not think it right, when a vote of censure is hanging over our heads, that we should propose our financial arrangements for the year ; and, therefore, I certainly will propose to wait until it is decided whether we or any future Government shall bring orward the financial arrangements of the year."

The debate on the second reading of the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill was almost devoid of interest. The opposition to the bill was opened by the Earl of ARUNDEL and SURREY, with a speech of considerable length; in which it was hinted that if the measure became law and were en- forced, we might see a crowd of exiled English Roman Catholic prelates on the shores of Belgium, Holland, and France : would it suit the views of Rnglish statesmen, that influential Englishmen should so be scattered among foreigners always dinning into their ears a com-

' on of the treatment of their religion in Ragland and abroad ? Mr. REYNOLDS seconded the motion with a speech of lively "oppo- sition to Ministers." He compared the past unpopularity of Lord Stanley in Ireland with the present immensely greater unpopularity of Lord John Russell ; declared that he voted for the late motion of Mr. Disraeli to record his "want of confidence in the Ministry," and was pre- pared to repeat the vote again and again,—though he regarded the motion as a thing having no "merits at all," and in fact as perfectly absurd. He announced to Ministers that he is "in the market," and, "with a few others," to be bought at the price of the "total withdrawal of this mea- sure," and the introduction of measures favourable to the physical interests of starving Irishmen. Mr. M'Cuixecin added a long list of instances to those already made public in which important ecclesiastical as well as lay functionaries, in official documents, have used the territorial titles of the Roman Catholic Bishops, in reference to the incumbents of those sees. He also read a case submitted to Mr. Bethell, of the English Chancery bar, Mr. Bramwell, of the English Common-law bar, and Mr. Burnam the learned English conveyancing barrister, declaring unhesitatingly that the "first section of the bill involves the second and third sections," and

has all the effects which are supposed to be avoided by omitting the third and fourth sections.

Mr. ROUNDELL PArmira. opposed the bill at great length, upon the prin- ciple that it is in a political and religious sense uncalled for by the emer- gency : he is much more alive to the dangers which false and erroneous legislation of this description threatens to the great principles of civil and religious liberty, than to any idea which he is able to grasp of possible - political danger: and with respect to the Church of England he does not fear—she has every advantage in the contest, and the contest will only add to her strength.

Sir ROBERT PEEL delivered a maiden speech, of considerable length and diversity of topic, in favour of the bill. Among the points at its commencement was a declaration of political attachmert to Sir James Graham—" one to whom he looks up as called upon to occupy the place unhappily vacated in the advocacy of those measures which the country requires." Towards the end of his oration, he referred with effect to his diplomatic experience in Switzerland; where, whatever others might suppose, he had remained " a passive observer," witnessing in inac- tivity but not without emotion, "the mighty struggle of liberty against _ despotism and intolerance." When Sir Robert took his seat, amidst great cheering, he was immediately surrounded by a number of Members to offer him their congratulations.

Sir ROBERT 'sm.'s made an addition to the legitimate means of com- munication with the Court of Rome, which Mr. Stuart lately indicated as open to Government—the mode of a visit to Ancona or Civita Vecchia by one of our Admirals, with a statement of our views, in accordance- with the French or Austrian mode.

The other speakers were Mr. PAGE WOOD, in refutation of arguments used by Mr. Roundell Palmer against the bill ; and Sir BENJAMIN HALL against the Papal aggression, but blaming Ministers for the way they had met it.

The debate was adjourned.

The "no House" of Thursday being made the subject of sharp remark by Mr. WrtuAns, and of amusing criticism by Mr. DUNCOMBE, some Ministerial excuses were extracted. Lord JoaN Russzu, declared that he had been as much disappointed as any one at there being no House ; for the Government lost more by such an occurrence than any private Member could. Mr. HAYTER assured the House that he had used his best endeavours—taken all the measures that are usual—to make a House; but he did not succeed in inducing Members to attend.

The inquisitorial nature of the forms of returns issued by the Registrar- General for the purpose of making the Census was a subject of criticism in both Houses last night,—in the House of Peers, by Lord &casks's- and several others ; in the House of Commons, by Mr. GOULIIIIRN. Lord GRANVILLE and Sir GEORGE GB.EY respectively admitted that a reply to some of the questions cannot be enforced by law; but it is hoped that the value of the information requested will lead to the return being vo- luntarily filled up in a proper spirit.

A hope being expressed by Sir DE LACY EVANS, that the despatelace on the Caffre war will be laid on the table before the motion by Sir Wil- liam Molesworth comes on, Lord Sous RUSSELL informed the House that it will be the duty of the Government to ask the House for a vote in con- sequence of the hostilities now going on.

In reply to Mr. 1JI1417HART, it was stated by Lord PALMERSTON, that there are now seventy-six Hungarian prisoners in Turkey ; of whom sixty are about to be set free. The English Government desires to see all of them free, and thinks that, in due regard to his dignity, the Sultan will exercise the power he has under the understanding with Austria to liberate all.