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How or LORDS. Monday, *must p3. .Galway Harbour Bill (No. 2) read a third time and passed—Refreshment Houses' and Wine Licences 8ffl (Ireland) read a second time—Census (Scotland) Bill, Corrupt Practices Prevention Act (1834) Amendment Bill, read a third time and passed—Poor Relief (Ireland) Bill, Chancery Evidence Commission Bill, European Forces (India) Rill, Poor Law Board Continuance Bill, Local Government Supplemental Bill, East India Stock Transfer Bill, all passed through Committee—Savings' Bank Bill ; Refusal to Suspend Stand- ing Orders, Bill stopped. Tuesday. August 14. Syria, Greece ; Lord Stratford de Redcliffe's Questions— Chancery Svidence Commission Bill reads third time and passed—European For (India) Bill read a third time—Poor Law Board Continuance Bill, East India Stock Transfer Bill, read a third time and passed—Telegraphic Communication with India; Lord Stanley's Question. Thursday, August 16. Gunpowder Bill, Landed Property (Ireland) Bill, passed Committee—Industrial Schools Amendment Act, Landlord and Tenant (Ireland.) Bill, Consolidated Fund Bill, Spirits Bill, read a second time—Eccesiastical Com- mission Bill read a third time and passed.

Friday, August 17. Refreshment Houses and Wine Licences (Ireland) Bill, In- dustrial Schools Act (1857) Amendment Rill, Spirits Bill, passed through Com- mittee—Local Government Supplemental Bill, Gas (Metropolis) Bill, Consolidated Fund (10,000,000/4 Bill, read a third time and passed.

HOUSE OF Common. Monday, August 13. East India Loan ; Resolution passeed ...Fortification (Expenses) Bill in Committee—Consolidated Fund (I0,000,0001.), Stamp-duties Bill, passed Committee—Customs (No. 2) Bill, Defence of the Realm Bill, read a second time—Spirit Bill read a third time and passed—Spirit-duties Bill passed Committee—Peace Preservation (Ireland) Bill in Committee—Law and 'Equity Bill read a second time. Tuesday, August 14. Civil Service Estimates in Committee of Supply—Consoli- dated Fund (10,000,000/4 read a third time and passed—Fortifications, 8ce.., Bill read a third time and passed—Stamp-duties,8cc. (No. 2), Bill ; Lords' Amendments agreed to—Defence of the Realm Bill, Customs-duties Bill, passed Committee— Conjugal Rights (Scotland) Bill passed Committee—Plea on Indictment Bill lost— Felony and Misdemeanour Bill lost on consideration of amendments. Wednesday. August 15. County Coroner's Bill ; Lords amendments disagreed with—Committee of Supply on Civil Service Votes—Local Government Act read a first and second time.

Thursday. August 16. Stamp Duties (No. 2) Bill, Excise Duties Bill, Customs (No. 2) Bill, and Defence of the Realm Bill, read a third time and passed—Com- mittee of Supply on Civil Service Estimates. Friday, August 17. Civil Service Estimates ; Committee of Supply—Syria ; Mr. Kinnaird's Question.

IFIE INDIAN BUDGET.

Sir CHARLES Woon proceeded to lay the Indian Finances before the House in Committee on Monday. He commenced by noticing the de- parture of Mr. Jetties Wilson and the recall of Sir Charles Trevelyan and referred to the papers which were on the table, which were so fad and clear that he would only give a short summary of them. The proposals of the Supreme Government had excited "great criticism and opposi- tion ; " and led to controversial correspondenee with the other govern- ments of India. Referring to Sir Charles Trevelyan, he spoke of the recall as the "moat painful duty of his public life ; " he had seen Sir Charles that morning, and had received from him an assurance of assist- ance. He could not refrain from expressing the loss-this country and India had sustained in the death of Lord Elphinstone ; no man had greater experience of Indian administration under ordinary circumstances, and when the mutiny broke out he was equal to the emergency. There was a despatch from the Government of Bombay upon the table : in ad- dition to the voluminous correspondence there were the ordinary finance accounts of India with an explanatory despatch ; beyond that a compara- tive account of the estimates of revenue and expenditure for the last five years. There are some differences between the finance account and the comparative statement, but the latter is compiled from more recent in- formation, and contains items which are not in the other accounts. Be- fore going into the finance account he referred to the deficits of the two previous years. He had been sometimes accused of taking too gloomy a view of Indian finance : he had stated last August what he estimated would be the deficit of the years ending April, 1858.59- he was wrong both in receipt and expenditure ; the revenue was larger; the expendi- ture was larger; but the two had so far kept pace togethdi as to make the deficit what be had stated. He had estimated the deficit of 1859 at 14,707,0001.; it was only 14,187,000/. Ear the year ending April, 1860, the deficit was put at 9,281,,000l.; but it was really 9,981,0001.1 payments are thrown over one year to another preventing accurate esti- timates, but whilst his estimate was 23,988,0001., the actual amount is -24,168,0001.; or a difference of only 100,0001. This close agreement is accidental, but he claimed credit for not exaggerating the state of affairs. The expenditure in 1859-60 is 45,090400a ; income, 37,796,0007.; de- ficit, 8,094,000/. To that is to be added guaranteed interest upon rail- roads, 887,0001.; total deficit, 8,981,000/. The expenditure for the year 1860-61 is estimated at 43,958,0007., and the income at 37,762,0001., leaving a deficit of 6,196,0001.; or adding the interest on railroads (this year increased by 400,0000 amounting to 1,276,0001,: a total deficit of 7,472,000/.

The controversy carried on in India between Calcutta and Madras,

and, apparently, Bombay, is that the deficit should be made goodly a reduction of military expenditure, which is estimated for the year at 15,276,0001.; deduct the deficit, say 8,000,000/., the-sum would be three millions less than the year before the mutiny. No one can be sanguine enough to suppose that our military expenditure can be reduced as low as it was before the mutiny ; we must inevitably maintain a large European force in India. In the estimates, the proposed reduction in military ex- penditure is 2,600,0001., and if we add to that the amount of the deficit, a reduction of ten millions must be made in the military expenditure at the end of this year. Will any one maintain that to be possible ? The estimate is made by the Government in India the Government of Bom- bay proposes to reduce 665,0001., Madras 591,0001., and Bengal makes up the amount to 2,600,0007. Madras, last year, reduced by 330,0001., but Bombay had increased by 197,0001. During the last two years there has-been a total reduction of military expenditure of six millions; he could not be sanguine as to its being carried further.

This is the state of affairs for the present year, but we must look for- ward and see what our prospects are : he had always taken the year 1856-57 as a pattern year—the year preceding the mutiny, when there were no additional expenses, and income and expenditure were equal. Starting from that year, the military outlay is increased by 3,785,0001., local corps 333,000/4 and transpovt 141,0007., home charge for payment of troops 1,195,0001.—making a total of 5,454,000/.

We must also include the police, necessarily increased to a consider- able extent in consequence of the diminution of the native army. Since 1856-67 the inerease-amounts to 1,0140001.; total of military and police, 6,478,000/. Barracks have also increased the outlay : native troops do not require this kind of accommodation as they provide for themselves after their own fashion, but we must ;et fairly to European troops. It has been thought necessary too to construct the barracks so as to make them forti- fied posts, to which, if necessary, women, children, and invalids may re- dire. This creates expense, but it cannot last mow than a year or two. It has increased from 340,000 in 1856-57th 1,827,000 in 1859-60.

But there has been an almost perfect stoppage of expense on account of civil public buildings, and therefore, although a considerable reduction of military building expenses may be anticipated, none could be expected In civil public works. There will be a transfer from the military to the civil expenditure, but the charge on the Indiaii-revenue will not be diminished- " There has been since 1856-57 an increase in the cost of collection of 476,5661.; civil and political establishments, 508,3611.; judicial establishments, 163,625/. ; public works, 4.52,732!.; miscellaneous, 124,5731. —making a total of 1,725,857/. There is another item of increased expense—the intereet on the debt. Before the mutiny took place the debt was 59,442,000/. and the interest 2,525,0001. In 1859-60 the debt is 97,851,000/., and the interest is 4,461,0001., being an in- creased charge for interest of 1,936,000/. Beyond that there is an increased charge for what is called guaranteed interest on railways. In 1856-57 the amount of guaranteed interest was 404,000/. ; 1857-58, 526,0001.; 1858-59, 606,0001.; 1859-60, 887,0001.; 1860, 1,276,0001.; being an increase of 872,000/. The sum total of all these Increased charges since 1856-57 was— military, 5,454,000!.; police 1,024,000.; civil, including buildings, 1,725,800!.; interest guaranteed to railways, 872,000/.—making a total in- crease of 11,011,800/. The revenue has increased, partly from the old sources and partly from additional taxes, to the extent of 4,400,000/. A large por- tion of the arrears due subsequent to the mutiny has been paid up, but I do not anticipate much more from that source ; and, after as fair and impartial an estimate as we can make of the entire revenue and of the expenditure, the result arrived at is that we shall have a deficiency for 1861-62 of 6,611,0001."

How is this to be made up ? shall we borrow ? Sir Charles Wood thought not ; for to give the Indian Government power to borrow would be to create a temptation to wasteful expenditure. Wisely the House had resolved not to guarantee the payment of Indian expenditure, but to throw the Government of India upon its own resources; the knowledge that it must meet its own obligations would compel economy. We must then have recourse to taxation, and what is that taxation to be ? With the full concurrence of the Governor-General, Mr. Wilson had proposed that the new taxes should be half in the nature of a licence- tax and half of an income-tax. Communications were made to the Govern- ments of Madras and Bombay, and the bills were put substantially into the shape in which they now stand. Sir Bartle Frere came from Seinde and Bombay with the conviction that additional taxation was not neces- sary for India; he was unprepared for the state of things he found at Calcutta, and assented to new taxation. In the Presidency of Madras there are 1,518,187 landholders, only 1800 of whom would pay the tax if assessed at half the amount of their rents. It is now proposed that the tax shall be levied on one-third of the rent, which will reduce the number to 1000 landholders. We are told from the Punjaub and other parts of India that there will not be the slightest difficulty in raising the tax. The Relah of Hurdwar had addressed a letter to Mr. Wilson, in which he declares that the natives of India ought to pay for the protec- tion to life and property by a small percentage upon their incomes. The small landholders will escape ; the richer landholders and mercan- tile classes, who have contributed nothing 'to the revenue, will pay.

The next point introduced is the probable produce of the new taxes- " It is very difficult, of eourse,-to estimate with any certainty the produce of any new taxation. The Government of India expect that no very large sum—probably not more than 1,000,0001.—will be raised during the present year' and that 3o400;000/. will be obtained in 1861-62. Taking into ac- count the amount of deficit which I have already mentioned, we shall still have in 1861-62 a deficit of 3,111,0001. Lam in hopes, however, that the Government of India, by making, as I have no doubt they will do, an ear- nest effort, will be.able to make a still further reduction in the amount of the deficit. There is unquestionably considerable scope for reduction. I have said that I do not think the Civil Service eependiture can be di- minished, bat there are various branches of the military expenditure in which a saving may possiblybe effected. The military expenditure of 1860- 61, exclusive of building, may be estimated at 17,000,000!., and the police at 2,000-,000/. These must be taken together, for any increase in the one would lend, to a certnin extent, to a reduction in the other. We have here an expenditure of 19,000,0001., in which it will be very hard indeed if we cannot effect a-reduction of 3,000,000/., or thereabouts, in the course of the year. With that reduction and the increased taxation I think there is a raaeonable prompect of placing the income and expenditure on an equality during 1860-61. The ordinary sources of revenue show marked symptoms of improvement; and in the course of three or four years I hope the ordinary income will meet the ordinary expenditure." The prices of produce are rising. In Madras the disbanded troops have found higher wages and snore comfortable homes than in the army. The immediate question was how to deal with the deficit of the year— "I believe-I shall be able to do so from the balances paid into the Trea- sury by the Indian railway companies, without bringing them below what both the Indian and home Governments deem to be safe. If the railways pay all they ought to may, then I shall not require a single shilling addi- tional. There may, however, be some deficiency on their part, and it is to provide against that that I propose a loan. In the course of this year the ltailway Commissioners in India ought to pay in 7,000,000/. Of that amount between 4,500,0001. and 6,000,000/. will, we expect, be sufficient

i

for the censtruction of railways in India. What s not disbursed in India will b.: remitted to this country ; and it is on this balance in the Home Trea- sury that I depend for meeting the home expenses. I have, however, thought lt wise and prudent to take powers to raise 3,000,0001., in ease the railway companies should happen to pay in less than I now anticipate. I hope and trust' that the railways will provide the full amount required, and hat I shall-not need to avail myself of the borrowing powers which I now propose to take by way of precaution. The resolution which I shall place in the hando-nrthe Chairman is a general resolution, but in the bill which I-shall introduce I shall insert a clause limiting the power to raise money. a,000,000l. ...With regard to the Customs'-duty, which is to be at the rate of 10 percent, I have not heard much complaint of the rate of duty, though it is very odd indeed if some of those who have to pey do not com- plain of the justice of taxation."

The Government at Calcutta intend to call together civil servants from Bombay and Madras, to meet -and provide such a system of value- lion as shall be nearly equal and uniform. The Paper Currency Bill has been delayed by discussion, but it has been favourably received in India, and may soon be expected here. Paper currency will he a great advan- tage to trade, by facilitating the transmission of money from place to place, and will remove the necessity of large balances being held in the 365 treasuries of India- " The railroads are gointon, upon the whole, very satisfactorily in India. We hope that by the beginning of next year 1200 or 1300 miles will be open for traffic. Some of the works are very heavy, and render necessary a large expenditure. A very able report has been laid on the table, which gives the fullest information on this subject. In order to complete the railways, 52,500,000/. will be required. The amount authorized to be raised is 36,500,000/. The amount paid up is 29,500,0001., and the amount expended is about 28,000,000/. Of the 29,500,000/. which has been raised 25,250,0001. has been raised by shares, and 4,2;50,000/. by debentures. The traffic re- turns are, so far, very good ; and when it is remembered that none of the lines are open between termini, there is every reason to believe that, when great towns are, as it were, annexed to the present termini, they will in- crease far beyond the ratio of increase on the lines now in operation. The electric telegraph extends nearly 11,000 miles. The submarine cable ap- pears to be subject to a great number of accidents; and, although on one occasion a message was received in six days from Calcutta, communication has been interrupted by an accident, to which I fear the cable will be very liable in the lied Sea and on the coast of the Mediterranean. A line will, however, shortly be laid down between Calcutta and Singapore, which will very much shorten the time necessary for communication with China." Civil public works have stood still since the mutiny. In the Punjaub, the Barei Douala Canal, the trunk road to Peshawur, and the Attock Canal under the Indus, are being proceeded with. In Seinde, the irriga- timi works are going on ; and he had been at Kurrachee, and its works are in course of improvement. In Bengal seventeen roads are being con- structed, 450 miles long—to feed the railroads a new town is being created at Mutlah. The Orissa viaduct for saving Cuttaek from the violence of the Maharuddy and utilizing the waters of the stream is to be constructed without any guarantee. The Godavery works are wait- ing negotiations with the Nizam : native rights of territory must be res- pected. In Southern India, two roads are ordered through the Eastern Ghauts ; Gogo will soon be connected with the cotton-growing districts of Ahmedabad and the anchorage improved. The proceedings of a com- pany for construction of docks at Bombay have been sanctioned.

After paying a tribute of admiration to Lord Canning for his conduct with respect to the talookdars, who had been by his lordship invested with magisterial powers to a certain extent, and from whom a connexion would be formed between the landowners and the Government, Sir Charles Wood moved a resolution for power to raise 3,000,0001., by way of loan.

Mr. HENRY SEYMOUR thought Sir Charles Wood's speech most un- satisfactory. Mr. Wilson, at Calcutta, admitted that the deficit might be reduced now to 5,700,000/. Both Lord Elphinstone and Sir Charles Trevelyan stated that the military expenditure need not be greater after the mutiny than in 1856. Sir Charles Wood put down the police at 2,000,000/., but Sir Charles Trevelyan declared the police necessary for Madras would not cost more than 140,000/. a year ; being one police- man for every 1000 inhabitants. Sir Charlie Trevelyan had visited all the Indian Presidencies and made Indian affairs his study all his life, and he was of opinion that the military expenditure might be reduced to 11,500,0001., the standard before the mutiny. Sir Charles Wood had been sixteen months in office; and during that period the office might as well have been shut up. The delay in answering letters and transacting business was greater than when the Company existed. The office of Under- Secretary ought to have been abolished when Sir George Clerk went to Bombay, as Sir George himself recommended, and not bestowed upon' Mr. Herman Merivale, a gentleman who had never been in India in his' life— "-Sir C. Trevelyan and Mr. Wilson had been rivals in the public service in England for a vast number of years ; and when Sir C. Trevelyan was say- ing to a friend on leaving, that he was making great sacrifices, his friend en- deavoured to console him by reminding him that, at all events, he woUld not have Mr. Wilson near him. It was a parallel case to two appointments in the Crimean war, and it was the duty of the Secretary of State to warn Sir C. Trevelyan and Mr. Wilson of the dangers te the public service which would ensue should they not agree together iii India. There was no indi- cation in the despatches that these rivals were not left to their own passions, and if anything passed in the shape of private letters he entirely objected to that kind of correspondence. It appeared to him that the Secretary of State was as indifferent upon this matter as when he replied to a questiot of his, that he knew nothing about and had not seen the bills which threatened to convulse India. He did not find the same energetic desire to red nice ex- penditure expressed in the despatches of the right honourable gentleman, which he could trace in the despatches of the noble lord the Member for King's Lynn, and he really did not see the use of paying the right honour- able gentleman so much to do so very little."

Mr. W. EWART was of opinion that the military expenditure of India might be diminished by the reduction of the army and the establishment of an efficient police. Mr. Gueosoe approved the course pursued by the Indian Government of meeting the deficiency by new taxes, and hoped and believed that, by degree& the revenue and expenditure would equal each other without further taxation. Sir II. Wieeomainiv, on the other hand, thought the state of the Indian finances most alarming. One of the great dangers, he observed, was the doubtful foundation upon which these financial statements rested, as Mr. Wilson had discovered. Much depended upon the composition of the army. There was, in his opinion, danger of losing India by obnoxious taxes. Mr. ROEBUCK complained of the principle upon which compensation for losses during the mutiny had been made as unjust. Sir LIE LACY EVANS asked what could be the object of keeping up such an immense military establishment in India, Native as well as European, now that the mutiny was extinct, and the people were disarmed ; and how it was possible that, with such an esta- blishment, the finances could be relievtA ? Mr. Vaxsrerane doubted whether the produce of the Interne-tax would be so large as Sir C. Wood anticipated ; at the same time, he did not believe the collection of the tax, unpopular as it was, would be attended with any difficulty. Mr. CRAWFORD throw out suggestions for a modification of the system of Indian railway guarantees, and made a few cursory remarks upon sub- jects referred to in the speech of Sir C. Wood. Mr. T. G. BARING re- plied to Mr. SEYMOUR, and said with respect to the military expenditure, that the Indian Gevernment were fully convinced of the necessity of reducing the army in India, and were taking every practicable means to effect its reduction, which must be a work of time. Mr. ATRTON ob- jected to the course of giving to the 'Government of India what was asked without examination; a course of unlimited credit that would pro- duce unlimited extravagance. He urged the abolition of what he termed the "mock Parliament," the Legislative Council of India and the esta- blishment of separate governments in India. Some observations were made by Mr. idADFIELD, Mr. KINNAIRD, Mr. LYGON, and MlOT PAR- KER. Sir C. WOOD gave a general reply ; and the debate, the greater part of which was listened to by not more than thirty Members, was brought to a close by the resolution being agreed to.

SYRIA.

In the HMSO Of Lords, OR Tuesday, Lord Smareolin DE REDCLIFFE put a question to Lord Wodehouse as to the state of affairs in Syria : he wished to know whether orders had been given for any vessel of war to proceed to Smyrna and other towns on the coast of the Archipelago for the protection of British subjects and property ? A correspondent, writing from Smyrna on the 3d of August, stated that the alarm there was very great : there was no fear of the Mahomedan residents of Smyrna taking the initiative in any move against the Christians, as they are in a minority. What is feared is a fire or a dispute between Turks and Greeks, in which there might be fearful results ; the migratory races in the interior amount in all to 110,000 within the pashalic ; there is much discontent against the Turkish Government." Another cormsprdent, writing from Constantinople, says- ' Another cause of mischief here is the strong impression that Europe will never unite together against the mismanagement of Turkish Adminis- tration. But if the Turkish Ministers were once to see at least England and France agree together on this point you would see them act quite differently. . . . . There could not, I believe, be a better or more justifiable opportu- nity for making a last effort. to save this country, which is sure otherwise to perish, than since the last awful occurrences in Syria have fixed public at- tention to such an extent. Any attempt again to patch up things in the usual diplomatic way will, you may rest assured, end in no practical result, and only postpone the evil moment. . . . . The public mind has been very much excited of late by passing events, and strong apprehensions are still entertained of some eventual outbreak in the capital. Poverty and discontent prevail more or less almost among every class and community. One cannot tell what may be the result of all this without some prompt and efficient change."

The letters "came from persons of respectability and much experience." The disturbances in Syria are not referable to local causes, but are con- nected with the general stability of the Turkish Empire, "the weakness of the policy of the Government arising from a long habit of vicious ad- ministration." A very serious responsibility devolves upon her Majesty's Government, if occasion is not taken to press upon the Turkish Govern- ment that system of reforms which they are pledged, in honour as well as interest, to grant to their own subjects as well as to Europe at large. Lord Vironnuouse was not able to state that positive instructions have been sent to the Admiral, to despatch a vessel to Smyrna. Admiral Martin had been sent with a strong squadron to the Syrian coast ; he will naturally direct his ships to those points where they are most re- quired; any order to send a vessel to a particular place might disorganize plans better formed by him than at home. The squadron consists of, the Exmouth, the Marlborough, the Victor Emmanuel, and the Nep-'• tune line of battle ships ; the Ganges and the Liffey frigates ; and Hawke, Racoon, and Cared= corvettes.

Lord STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE thanking Lord Wodehouse for his candour, repeated with earnestness his sense of the requirements of the coast of Syria and the Archipelago : he felt a regret that more care had not been taken in the convention to secure the two objects her Majesty's Government had in view, namely, that the Turks themselves, should put down the disturbanees in the first instance, and should have a sufficient opportunity of doing so. Time ought to have been granted for that pur- pose; • the use of European troops is a necessity which ought, if possible, to be avoided.

FINANCIAL Pommes OF GREECE.

Lord STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE put another question to Lord Wode- house upon the affairs of Greece, and as to the loan of the three protect- ing powers made to that country with arrears of interest now accumu- lated. A mixed commission was appointed some time since, and a report had been made which was previously communicated to the Greek Go- vernment. He asked that the report might be produced ; and paid a high compliment to Sir Thomas Wyse as "a gentleman of high character and accomplishments," who had been principally intrusted with the manage- ment of this matter.

Lord WODEHOUSE had no objection to produce the report ; but the annexed papers were very voluminous, and it was not desirable to pro- duce them also. The report was really a very able and interesting docu- ment. Sir Thomas Wyse had been most cordially and ably supported by his Russian and French colleagues ; and if the Greek Government only carries out the reforms the ambassadors recommend, it will confer lasting benefits on its country. It was suggested that Greece should pay a certain sum of the loan year by year, and as a proof of solvency it was very desirable that it should do so.

EUROPEAN FORCES (INDIA) BILL.

On the motion for the third reading, on Tuesday, Lord LYVEDEN said he was glad to learn that there was nothing in the bill to alter the rela- tive position of the Governor-General and the military authorities at home. Lord Clyde, "who had lately returned with so much glory from India," stated that there was a willingness not only to serve but to settle in India. Under the Charter of 1813 the number of Queen's troops could not be increased beyond 20,000, which could not be augmented ex- ceptliy requisition from the Company. In the Act of 1858 there was no equivalent for this. There was nothing now to prevent the Secretary of State and the Commander-in-chief from jointly determining to in- crease the forces in India to an extent which it would be impossible for the revenue of this country to bear. He also depreciated the position of *lie Indian Council as simply registering edicts.

The Duke of Atiorm. apprehended that Lord Lyveden had mistaken the despatches. The doctrine had been held that the Government might -decide on questions of Indian policy, without consulting the Indian Coun- -di With regard to the increased expenses of the Queen's Army, an

eminent actuary had calculated it at 180,0001. There would be an expence of 318,000/., a considerable portion of which would be an annual .charge, such as half-pay and the like, incurred in reducing the Royal Army. Lord WYNFORD complained that Lord Lyveden had not been answered, and also as to the tone of depreciation employed in speaking of the local army. Earl DE GREY and IticoN said that a Committee was appointed con- sisting of Lord Ilotham, chairman ; Colonel Sir P. Melvill, Bombay army ; Lieutenant-Colonel Norman, Bengal army ; Major-General Clarke, Madras army ; Sir C. Yorke, Colonel Wetherell, and General Russell.

In the Lords, on Tuesday, the Gas (Metropolis) Bill was brought up on the report with amendments. Viscount TORRINGTON moved that the bill be read that day three months ; but, after considerable discussion, the amendment was withdrawn.

The present State telegraphic communication with India was introduced by Lord STANLEY OF ALDERLEY, complaining that we were in no better a position than we were three years-ago. Lord WODEHOUSE said the Red Sea Line was laid down but was unserviceable ' • the line by Bagdad and Bussorsh now being constructed by the Turkish Government, was stopped

in consequence of a difficulty as to the formation of a part of it. A con- vention had been concluded with Austria for a line from Ragusa to

Alexandria, but no progress had yet been made in its formation in con- sequence of difficulties which were fully described. Lord STANLEY re- plied ; the French Government were considering the propriety of making a telegraphic line along the whole coast of Africa from Algiers to Egypt. Might not Malta be connected with that line ?

THE LORD PRIVY SEAL.

In Committee on Tuesday, on the vote of 27201. being proposed to complete the sum necessary for this office, Mr. AYRTON objected, and moved a reduction of the vote by 2000/., being the salary of the Lord Privy Seal. Sir GEORGE LEWIS said the Duke of Argyll was both Lord Privy Seal, and Postmaster-General, but he did not draw both salaries. Lord Palmerston intended shortly to recommend her Majesty to fill up the office of Privy Seal, which was an office of high distinction in the State. Constitutionally, it was of high rank, but he was ready to admit it was merely of a formal nature. It was always held by a peer, and the holding of such an office by a person of rank was of great advantage to the country, as he was usually able to discharge duties which other members of the cabinet, plunged in the business of their offices, could not attend to. Sir GEORGE BOWYER told an anecdote of Pitt, who once ob- served that the duty of the Privy Seal, when the First Lord of the Trea- sury was a peer, was to get near and keep off the bores. Sir J. GRAHAM wished to say that if the dictum of Pitt were true, he must object to the holder of the office of Privy Seal slitting always in the House of Lords. He was sure that if the noble lord at the head of the Treasury had been present he would have said that the services of the Privy Seal were quite as much wanted in the House of Commons as in the House of Lords. He must say that he was not in favour of unpaid services. Paid service was always the best service, and it increased, moreover, the sense of responsibility. Whatever might be the rank of any person in office' he was an advocate for his being sufficiently paid. He agreed with the Secretary for the Home Department in thinking that his was too grave a question to be decided by a vote in Committee of Supply, and that it ought not to be decided upon without due notice being given. He looked upon the office of Privy Seal as one of great importance. Paying a high compliment to the Duke of Argyll, he still hoped the office of Postmaster-General would be filled up.

For the Amendment, 15; Against, 58; Majority, 43.

THE EDUCATION GRANT.

On Tuesday, in Committee of Supply, Sir E. Paxiworori moved a re- solution, "That the grants annually made by Parliament for the pro- motion of education ought to be expended with fair and just regard to the requirements of the different classes of schools recognized by the minutes of the Committee of Council, and that Ragged and Industrial Schools, which are alone adapted to meet the wants of a considerable number of destitute and neglected children, are therefore entitled to a • larger amount of aid than they at present receive." He cited documen- tary and published evidence in support of his fundamental proposition, that these schools, especially Ragged Schools, do not receive the assist- ance to which they are fairly and legitimately entitled, and argued that, on the grounds of economy and public policy alone, the Committee of Council were bound to deal with the Ragged Schools in a more

liberal spirit. The motion was seconded by Mr. Bidiez, who gave details of the successful results of these schools in Scotland. Mr. .ADDERLEY did not concur in all the views of Sir J. Pakington. The question was, he observed, whether more than a just limit was imposed upon these grants. He was not of that opinion, and thought that there should be a check upon these grants ; that they should not be unlimited. Mr. BRISCOE, Mr. A. MILL; and Mr. CAVE, spoke in favour of the mo- tion. Mr. HENLEY could not say " aye ' or no" to the motion, be- cause it seemed to him to have a wider scope than Sir J. Pakington ap- prehended. It appeared to be the object to separate the penal element from the Industrial and Ragged Schools, and to give them a distinct status. Cautioning the House against any proceeding that would set up a system of secular education, he showed from official data the present working of the Privy Council grants, whence it appeared, he observed, that instruction was not education • that in those counties where in- struction was low morality was high; and that the existing system was not doing all the good that was hoped'for, reaching more the higher class of children than the lower, who did not get the sort of education which they ought to receive. Mr. LOWE thought Mr. Henley had misunder- stood the principle of these grants. The system of the Privy Council, whether for good or evil, was that they originated nothing, but gave money to those who were willing to subscribe money. He described th classes of schools to which grants were made, and the conditions upo which they were given, and replied to the arguments, of Sit J. Pakington whose proposition would, he said, subilert the whole practice of the Pri Council, and introduce a new principli• of action. If more money wile given to Ragged Schools, there would be a run upon the Government Ion behalf of schools giving themselvei that denomination, ind the education vote must be doubled. Upon a division, the resolution was negatil

by 41 to 25, and the House then went into Committee of Supply.

Upon the &it vote of 798,167/. for public education in Groot Sri: in, Mr. Low; in *ling this vote, observed that, although there was a. P- parent decrease compared with last year's of 38,7531., there was, it

an increase of about 36,0001., though 40,0001. short of the estimate had been expended. He then proceeded to explain the details of the vote and the distribution of the grant. The vote was agreed to after much discussion.

IRISH -EDUCATION.

In the Commons on Thursday, in Committee of Supply, Mr. CARD• wzia. brought forward the Irish educational vote. He examined in de- tail the working of the mixed system during the last few years. The present vote was 21,0001. in excess of that of last year, mainly owing to the increased payment to the teachers, and the improvement in the stan- dard of tuition. The increase in the number of schools was eighty-eight, and of scholars 3112. He then examined in detail, and disproved the al- leged eases of proselytizing, and showed that in an immense number of schools Roman Catholics and Protestants attended without any reason- able complaint of religious interference of any kind. No case had been substantiated before the board where any direct act of proselytizing had been attempted. It could not be said that the result of the national sys- tem had been to undermine the faith or to disturb the religious convic- tions of the people of Ireland. On the contrary, he believed that the faith of both parties was never so strong as after thirty years' experience of a system which left every one his religious belief and gave proper in- struction to all. He concluded by declaring, that the system had given a sound practical education of a united character to the entire population of Ireland. Still there were some points in which the Govern- ment proposed certain changes. He admitted that the constitu- tion of the board was not fair to the Roman Catholics, and that the number of those religionists on the board ought to be increased. This principle had been carried out in the case of the in- spectors. No one could reasonably object that the number of Roman Catholic members of the board should be equal to that of the Protestant. In the vesting of the schools and in the books, improvements would be introduced. Among other changes it was supposed to be possible to in- troduce into the school-books a larger proportion of subjects especially interesting to Irishmen. This might be done without importing topics either of polemical or political controversy ; and it was the intention of the Committee of Council to nominate a Sub-Committee during the re- cess to take this question into consideration. Some plans were also be- fore the Commissioners designed to make better provision for separate religious teaching. The point of most importance related, however, to the composition of the Education Board, on which the Government fully admitted the right of the Roman Catholics to enjoy an equal share of membership. The sole motive on which her Majesty's Ministers had acted was their desire to do what was just and beneficial ; and he submit- ted, in conclusion, that in spite of the difficulties with which the system of national education in Ireland had heretofore struggled, and still might have to contend, it had now taken root and become the agent of a most beneficial improvement among the rising generation of Irishmen. Mr. MAGUIRE acknowledged the benefits which the present system of education had conferred upon Ireland. All education was useful, but he considered that while the principle was good, the administration was liable to many serious objections even to the extent of rendering it ad- visable to have it entirely remodelled from beginning to end. The teaching and the books employed in the schools were essentially anti- Catholic and anti-national, and the whole system as now administered subordinated the parental to the pastoral authority, and thus introduced an influence which threatened to undermine the faith of the Roman Ca- tholic children, who constituted the great majority of pupils in the national schools. The honourable Member proceeded at much length to enjoin the adoption of the denominational, instead of the mixed, system in the schools established under State provision and control.

Mr. BEAST replied with some warmth to the charges brought by Mr. Maguire against the Commissioners, and read the rules they laid down for instruction in mixed schools, contending that they had never in practice deviated from them. Referring to the memorial of the Roman Catholic prelates of Ireland, he maintained that they claimed nothing less than the entire and exclusive control and direction of the education of the laity ; and he asked whether the House or the public would accede to such a demand, which was not admitted in Roman Catholic countries. No Government would ever accede to it, and Parliament could not do so without parting with its legitimate authority. As a Catholic, he differed from the views of those who desired the separate system con- templated by the Catholic prelates. He believed that it would be im- possible to obtain the consent of Parliament to the grant of public money for schools constructed upon such a system, or to obtain sites for school's from which Protestants were excluded. On the other hand, Protestant schools would increase, and all restrictions upon proselytism would be removed. He Suggested other objections to the change, for which he insisted there was no reason. Not a single instance of proselytism had been alleged ; and he deprecated the change as injurious to the interests of Roman Catholics, as one to which the Roman Catholic laity were not favourable, and which appeared in the unpopular shape of the authori- tative demand of an ecclesiastical synod.

Mr. M. OTERRALL, on behalf of the Roman Catholic prelates, repu- diated the charge, which he said was calumnious, that they wished to monopolize the control of the State provision for education in Ireland. He contended also, that while it was the duty of the State to supply the means of instruction to every class of the community, that duty should be accomplished without any interference in matters of religious belief.

The discussion was continued by Mr. BRADY, Mr. CHICHESTER Fon- asscuz, Mr. IIENNESSY, Lord FERMOY, ME. MONSELL, and other Mem- bers, with more or less asperity of tone ; and was wound up by Lord PALMERSTON' who considered that the speech of Mr. Deasy ought

to be conclusive to Itoman Catholic members, and thought he had been most unjustly accused (by Mr. Monsell) of vituperating the Roman Catholic prelates. He agreed with Lord Fermoy that there ought to be no mistake in this matter, and it should be well understood that the Government would not feel it their duty to propose a vote upon any other principle than that of mixed education. The vote was agreed to, and ordered to be reported.

SMITH KENSINGTON MUSEUM. The next vote, of 94,9611. for the Department of Science and Art, was likewise discussed for a considerable time, and several ineffectual attempts were made to reduce the amount.

Mr. CONINGHAM called attention to the item for the Kensington Mu- seum— " lie wished to ask what were the ulterior objects for which that institu- tion was intended. It has been justly characterized as a large advertising shop which came into competition with the traders of the metropolis. It was a great toy, and the articles exhibited in it partook of the nature of toys. Some years ago a great sale took place of an archeological collection and various articles of vertd. The Government devoted many thousands of pounds to purchases on that occasion, the effect of which was to raise the market price of those objects 200 per cent. Since then these articles had maintained an artificial value far beyond their intrinsic worth. This museum, which was supported by the public taxes, also entered into direct competition with the photographic societies aud private photographers of London. Some years ago, when the public money was employed in carry- ing on a competition with the book trade, Mr. Longman and Mr. Murray, the eminent publishers, memorialized the Government against the practice, and it was subsequently abandoned. In the present case, however, there was an attempt to renew the same indefensible system in respect to photo- graphy. He was sorry the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who was a free- trader without exception,' was not in the House, because that right honourable Aentleman would acknowledge that this practice was inconsis- tent with the true principles of political economy. Another point deserving of notice was.the myaterious intrigues which had been going on for the re- moval of the English school of pictures in the National Gallery to Kensing- ton. A correspondence had taken place between Sir C. Eastlake and Mr. Redgrave, in which the conduct of the director of the National Gallery cer- tainly came out in favourable contrast with that of the official of the Ken- sington Museum. Mr. Redgrave had urged the precipitate removal of the pictures of the British school to Kensington, and declared that the leas the matter was talked of the better. In one of that gentleman's letters oc- curred a significant postscript, begging that his haste might be forgiven, for he was writing against time, to save the train for Windsor.' This ought to excite the jealousy of the House ; and he trusted there would be an effectual interposition on the part of the few Members of Parliament re- maining in town to prevent the further progress of these intrigues for he could call them by no better name. When he found Cabinet intrigues, trotted down to the Museum for the purpose of perpetrating a Court job, one could not help thinking there were other gentlemen anxious to obtain seats in the Cabinet by doing what was agreeable to those who were known to exercise a most decided influence in the formation of Ministries. He should certainly keep a most watchful eye on the proceedings of these gen- tlemen. He did not accuse the noble lord or the President of the Council of any ulterior intentions in establishing this influential and despotic au- thority which it seemed the Kensington Museum would wish to exercise over the science and art department in this country ; but, con- sciously or unconsciously, they might be the instruments of others. So far from benefiting either the sciences or arts of the country, he believed the Kensington Museum was really nothing but a great toy- shop for the amusement of the residents in the West-end and other influential personages in that locality. H would especially call attention to the fact that the salaries of the officials of Kensington Museum were high compared with those of the British Museum, and had been gradually in- creased. Mr. Cole, for instance, the general superintendent, received 1200/. a year ; while at the British Museum the most eminent scientific man in the country, or perhaps in Europe, Mr. Owen, received only 8001., and the chief librarian a similar sum. He was quite prepared to support a mo- tion for increasing the salaries of the officers of the British Museum, whose labours and qualifications fully entitled them to ample remuneration; but from what he knew of the Kensington Museum, be could not help thinking that the public money might be much better spent than it was there. The report on the Kensington Museum was a most unsatisfactory document. On free-trade principles it was most unsound, and it was strange indeed, pro- ceeding as it did from so orthodox a professor of political economy as the right honourable gentleman ; but it was rumoured that after all the report was not entirely his, Mr. Cole having had a finger in the pie. He should like to have a satisfactory contradiction on that point from the right honour- able gentleman.

Mr. LOWE defended the Museum and its officers from Mr. Coningham's charges, and the vote was passed.

NATIONAL GALLERY.

On the motion for 11,670/. for the National Gallery, Mr. CONINGILLM moved to reduce the vote by 6000/., the amount asked for the purchase of pictures— He had last year made certain charges against the keeper, and he was told that that gentleman's tenure of office was about to expire; but nbw it ap- peared that the Government had continued that gentleman in office for another five years. Then, again, he was told, when he objected to a sum of 10,000/. for the purchase of pictures, that the Northwick collection was about to be sold ; but the fact appeared now to be that only four pictures were bought, for 2078/., at that sale ; two only—a Giulio Romano and a Masaccio —were valuable. He wanted to know what had become of the remainder of the 10,000/. A purchase was made in Hanover of two pictures, ascribed to Jacob Ruysdael, one for 10691., and the other for a larger sum. They were both of a similar character, and one would have been sufficient for artistic purposes, besides which, one was admitted by the best judges to be spurious. There had also been a purchase of the Beaucousin collection, some of which there had been no attempt to hang. He also objected to the item of 650/. for travelling expenses ; and he was informed that Mr. Mon- dler, whose salary had been struck out by Parliament, was still employed, and that be was remunerated out of the amount voted for travelling ex- penses. He would also repeat his recommendation that the Royal Academy should find other quarters, which would give ample room for the national collection.

The vote was agreed to.

KENSINGTON GARDENS.

In the House of Commons on Tuesday, Mr. EDWIN JAMES with some humour put a question to Mr. Cowper as to an oratorical effort of the right honourable gentleman in Kensington Gardens on Sunday last—

The First Commissioner of Works afterwards ascended what might be

called the rostrum, and made a long harangue in answer to the gentleman who had first spoken, and who it was said came from the Tower Hamlets. It appeared that this gentleman had said a good deal about the encroach- ments on the privacy of Kensington Gardens, and that the right honourable gentleman answered him in a speech of great eloquence. He thought it right this matter should be placed in its proper light, because he had heard that a large meeting was summoned for next Sunday in Kensington Gardens in the hope and expectation of again hearing the right honourable gentle- man' and he thought the public should not be disappointed in a matter of such importance. He thought it would tend much to the public advantage, if other Members of the Government would avail themselves during the re- cess of the opportunity of addressing the public in Kensington Gardens. It might be attended with great advantage if Members of the Government

would take this mode of explaining to the people the benefits likely to ac- crue from their financial and other measures.

Mr. COWPER on his rising was received with cheers ; he was obliged to his honourable and learned friend for an opportunity of explaining what really did happen—

He was taking a Sunday afternoon stroll, not in Kensington Gardens but in Hyde Park, and near to Grosvenor Gate he saw a crowd assembled, whieh was addressed by a person who was putting forth what were called Chartist opinions, and denonuncing the aristocracy as the great curse of this coun- try, and as a class which ought to be put clown. The speaker immediately proceeded to mention him (Mr. Cowper) by name as an impersonation of all the vices that an aristocracy could be charged with, and denounced him as having, especially in the case of the Kensington ride, shown a total disre- gard of the feelings of the people, and a desire to trample them down for some fancied advantage to the anstoeracy. He was moved, perhaps rather imprudently, by a desire not to go away without saying something to correct the erroneous impression which the speaker was leaving on the minds of his audience.

If he had been ono of the class the speaker described he would have gone away disdaining to take any notice of an address to a humble body of working men. He had always entertained the greatest respect for the opinion of honest men, "whether dressed in fustian or broad cloth." It was not pleasant to talk in the open air, but it was also difficult to listen to misrepresentations.

He thought, therefore, that the most manly course was to say something to the people ; and accordingly, when the orator ceased, he jumped on the bench from which he had spoken, and to the best of his ability answered the accusations brought against himself. He might have digressed into the sub- jects of Socialism and Chartism, which were the main topics of the orator's speech, but his chief object was to explain to the audience that what he had said about the gardens was quite unjust. He could not recall exactly what he did say, but he endeavoured to explain that the opening of the new ride was not intended in any way to affect the working classes, or to promote any exclusion whatever ; that it did not affect the working classes, as it was not the practice for any considerable number of them to frequent the walks of Kensington Gardens or the ride at such hours as the riders were there. He showed that for the most part the working classes were there on the Sun- days, and therefore they could not be annoyed by the horses. He also ex- plained to them that as regarded exclusion the statement was a misre- presentation, for what he had endeavoured to promote was not exclusion but admission—the admission of a large portion of the public that had hitherto been excluded. Heals° stated that the subject of the ride never could have been a proper ground for exciting antagonism between the higher and working clIsses. He was glad to have an opportunity of explaining the whole matter to honest ordinary average working men, and to show that the question had been entirely misrepresentehl by the speaker.; and he told them that the ex- clusion was on the part of his opponents, and not on his, and that his object was rather to bring all classes together than to separate them. Ile liked to see the higher, the middle, and the lower classes all joining together in amusement and recreation ; and therefore, if what he had done were viewed in a moral aspect, it could not but be pleasing to every true Liberal. If he had shown any imprudence in the step he had taken in addressing the peo- ple, he wta sorry for it, but he thought it was his duty under the circum- stances to stand forward manfully and correct the misrepresentations which had been made.

NAVAL CAPTALXS.

In the House of Lords, on Monday, Lord SHREWSBURY, in moving for correspondence commencing November, 1859, between Captains on the Reserved List and the Admiralty, drew the attention of the House to the hardships inflicted upon those officers who had conditionally retired in 1851, by placing them on the same footing as those who had retired before 1851 unconditionally. Lord Cirerameonn supported the motion, as he was convinced of the justice of the officers' claims. The Duke of SOMERSET vindicated the Board of Admiralty against the charge of having treated their officers with bad faith, and contended that it was neither the intention of the Admiralty, who made the arrangements in 1851, nor the meaning of the Order in Council, to grant Captains on the Reserved List more than an immediate—certainly not a prospective—advance of pay. This decision had been announced by the Admiralty in their re- ply. He would not, however, oppose the motion if it were made to in- clude the correspondence previous to 1859. Lord HARDWICKE thought the noble Duke might have looked at the case from a less narrow point of view.* The motion as amended was then agreed to.

SAVINGS BANK AND FRIENDLY SOCIETIES BILT..

The Duke of ARGYLL, in moving a resolution declaring this bill to be one of urgency, briefly stated the objects it had in view. After a few remarks from Lords MONTEAGLE, REDESDALE, DERBY, and Gnalavria.n, the House divided on the question whether the bill was - a matter of urgency. The numbers were—Contents, 18; Non-contents, 18. Whereupon the Loom CHANCELLOR having observed " Semper pre- sumitur pro negante," the resolution of urgency fell to the ground, and the bill was lost.

TERMINABLE Axxurrres.

In the House of Commons, on Monday, Mr. Hamann moved, on going into Committee on the Fortification (Provision for Expenses) Bill, an amendment, in which the policy of borrowing in the form of Termin- able Annuities instead of Consols, was the question. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER resisted the amendment, on the ground that it would raise a very embarrassine.° question in levying the Income-tax. The amendment was negatived.

FORTIFICATIONS.

An amendment, by Sir Tam:waren SMITH, to reduce the outlay at Portsmouth by 200,000/., was also negatived.

MISCELLANEOUS.

In the Commons on Tuesday, on the order for the second reading of' the New Zealand Bill, Sir J. PAKINGTON, after presenting a petition against the Bill, made an earnest appeal to the Government against the doubtful propriety of proceeding with the bill, imploring them to con- sider its serious nature, interfering as it did with the constitution of the colony, in opposition to the views of the Colonial Legislature, and of per- sons-interested in the colony resident in this country. Lord PALMERS- TON said it was not intended then to read the bill, and when it came on for a second reading, those who had charge of it would state the reasons which had induced the Government to introduce the bill in the other House. The second reading was deferred till Monday. On the report of the India Loan resolutions, Sir JAMES GRAHAM called the attention of Sir Charles Wood to the sum of 60,0001. paid by India to the British Exchequer for invalids, but he wished it to be borne in mind that if the ernes, in Idia is increased to 80,000 men that sum will be insufli. dent. Sir-Client:us WOOD hoped that this subject, which would-be fully considered, would lead to the charges being placed on an equitable footing. On Wednesday, the House sat in Committee of Supply after some in- cidental conversation upon the Savings Bank: Bill, Kensington Museum, and, the New Zealand Bill,tiono of. which led.teany result. Mr. Jamas called the attention of the. House to the Law Courts. at .Guildford, which_ were a positive disgrace to the administration. of.justice. Incidentally the recent 'scenes" were. discussed.: Colonel Fasten particularly am.- madverting on the conduct of the. Judges at Guildford. Mr. TAsiss der fended the Lord Chief Justice; in a .properly constructed courtno such scene could. have taken place. On the vote for the. County Courts of 145,2751. to complete the sum. of 200,275/. necasaary,. Mr: CLista stated that since the reduction of the fees the courts had. ceased to be-self-:sup- porting. Mr. AYHTON said that, after giving credit for. all.the fees, the Comity Courts cost the country no less than. 287,5001. A.most (dikter tionable practice had sprung,from-the system. Hawkers went about the country enticing the poorer classes to buy goods cuss credit, and then by. means of the County Courts got their debts collected almost at the pub- lie expense, the. unfortunate debtors being subjected,. when they could not pay, to an imprisonment which partook of a penal character, His hoped the Secretary to the Treasury would consider the subject, with the view of seeing whether a. practice so hurtful to the working:classea could not be checked by limiting the facilities. for the recovery otdebts which these courts offered, to hawkers.

The vote passed.

A discussion took place on the Metropolitan. Police originated by Sir GEORGE BOWYER, who censured the conduct of Inspector•Whicher at Road. Sir GEORGE. LEWIS. defended Whichees conduct; he asserted from a knowledge of all the circumstances connected with Miss Kent, Whither was justified in asking the magistrates to- pronounce on the question. In the Lords on Thursday a short, but, animated discussion, took place upon the declaration of Lord GneNviLLE that he intended to move, on Friday, the suspension of the resolution against reading bills a second time after a-certain day in July, in order that their. lordships.might give a second reading to the Savinge-Banks.Bill. It will be remembered that the resolution of urgency for coneideriug this, bill, moved by the Puke of Argyll, was rejected a few nights.ago,—a rejection' considered by several noble lords tantamount to. throwing the bill out for the Session. Upon this point, and also on the short notice of the intention of the Guveni- ment, the discussion took place.

In the Commons on Thursday, in the morning sitting, Mr; WALPOLE moved the British Museum Estimate, as. trustee, with the usual prefatory statement, which gave rise to a long discussion. The vote having been at length agreed to, the Committee proceeded to the consideration of the ordinary Civil Service Estimates. In the evening, the report of the Com- mittee of Supply was brought up and agreed to.

Mr. HENNESSY called attention to a letter-which appeared in the Times of Tuesday last from an aide dc-camp of General- Garibaldi, with refer- ence to procuring British soldiers and other subjects of the • Queen for service in the insurrectionary army of Italy ; and he inquired whether the Government were aware of the- enlistment going on; whether they had given their consent to it ; and whether they were of opinion that it was consistent with international laws Sir J. SirEtrxr remarked that Mr. Hennessy had been silent on the subject of- her Majesty's subjects going from Ireland to serve under the Pope. Lord PALMERSTO-N said her Majesty's Government had no knowledge of any such enlistment going on in this country. On the motion for the third reading of the Peace Preservation Bill, Mr. BLAKE moved that the bill be read a third time this- day three' months. Mr. P. O'BRIEN supported the amendment. The House divided. The numbers were—for the third reading, 58.; against it, 20; majority, 311. The bill was then read a third time and passed: WINE LieEtices. Mr. Dares asked whether the Chancellor of the Exr chequer could tell what number of applications had been.made for licenses in the metropolis under the Refreshment Houses and Wine Licences Bill ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said 658 licences had been assigned in London to the occupiers of refreshment houses, but that did not include Kensington and Hammersmith, where the licences were charged and paid for in the county of Surrey. Out of these 658- only 129 had applied fer licences to sell foreign wines by retail to be consumed on the presumes. Rd believed the nature of the Act WSW not sufficiently, known, and that this as- counted- for the small number of wine licences applied for.

FELONY AND MISDEMEANOUR BILL. Mr: E. JAMES objected IO the amendments introduced by the House of Lords, according- to which the judge was to determine whether from the number of witneasee, or from any other cause, the evidence required to be commented on. This, he thought, would be one of the most dangerous powers with which a judge could be invested and if agreed to by the House, the provision would, be inopera- tive, for in a case of murder no judge would dare to refuse the right of sum- ming up to the prisoner's counsel. He therefore moved that the -Lords' amendments be disagreed with. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL agreed with the honourable Member for Marylebone. So convinced was he-of the impolicy, imprudence, and extreme mischief that must follow from the amendments introduced by the Lords, that he would infinitely, rather—at all events,,for the present—that legislation on this subject should be delayed. The ques- tion having been put, the amendments were rejected.