Iltbates anb Vroctebings in Varliameni.

SALE OF IRISH ESTATES.

In the House of Lords, on Monday, the LORD CHANCELLOR introduced a a bill to facilitate the sale of encumbered estates in Ireland. It was read a first time; to be circulated in Ireland, and read a second time after the recess.

POOR-RELIEF IN IRELAND.

Before the House of Commons went into Committee on the Poor-Relief (Ireland) Bill, on Monday, Lord GEORGE BENTINCK revived the subject of mortality. By the canon law every clergyman is obliged to keep a re- gistry of the burials in his parish; and that, Lord George insisted, would be a basis for the returns which he had demanded. It had been currently re- ported that the mortality in Ireland amounts to 1,000,000. Mr. LaBou- OBERE observed, that the canon law only applies to Protestant clergymen; and even by them it has not been generally observed. There was a good deal of conversation on the subject; but ultimately Mr. LABOUCHERE said he should have no objection to produce a comparative statement of the mortality among members of the Church of England if it could be obtained.

Mr. Jona O'CoNtenu, "adjured" the Government "to come forward and arrest the hand of the destroyer," and not to rely so much on the ex- ertions of individual charity. Lord GEORGE BENTINCK recurred to the non-interference with trade in the supply of food; which he strongly con- demned. Nothing new on these points, however, was elicited; except the fact that M. Soyer's experiments were at first paid for out of the private subscriptions, but that, having been found perfectly successful, his plans have been adopted by the Relief Committees.

The House went into Committee, and proceeded with the discussion of the clauses of the bill. Some amendments were proposed; one by Mr. EssulatoN, to restrict the powers of the relieving-officers in administering assistance; another by Mr. POULETT SCROPE, to make the administration of such assistance compulsory: but none of the amendments were suc- oessful. At clause 9 the Committee was adjourned.

The Committee continued its labours upon the clauses on Tuesday.. On clause 9; Sir HENRY BARRON moved an amendment, prohibiting relief to be given in any parish to any person who should not have resided there for the three preceding years; and authorizing the division of parishes exceed- ing 6,000 acres, into two or more separate parts, in such marner that the property of the same individual should not be in different parts. Mr. Lanoucur.aa admitted the expediency of inducing the landowner to look after the poor on his own estate; but this ought not to be carried so far as to make him heedless of what was going on beyond. Eventually the amend- ment was withdrawn.

On clause 10, Mr. MORGAN JoHN O'CoNNEEE moved an amendment, to impose the entire amount of rating, not on the electoral division, but upon the union at large. The clause as it stood imposed the rate on the elec- toral division, unless the amount should exceed 2s. 6d. in the pound; and then the charge of the excess would fall on the union at large. The dis- cussion on this amendment was chiefly remarkable for a declaratory speech by Sir JAMES GRAHAM. He said that he had originally given to the Irish Poor-law Bill a very hesitating support; in which he was wrong, and Lord John Russell, who introduced it, was right; for great benefit had accrued from its working. So far from introducing into Ireland the English Poor-law, the time has come when the law of England, as far as it relates to settle- ment and removal, must be revised. As to the question immediately before the Committee, that of a very diffused rating or a very localized rating, it was full of coufficting difficulties. " Good management " of Irish estates had formerly consisted in driving the poor off estates into the towns; propor- tionately increasing the pauperism of the towns, and their hardship under a very localized mode of rating. On the other hand, in Ireland the poor- rate is not assessed, as it is in England, with reference to the amount of pauperism, but with reference to the amount of wealth in a district; and, "rind' facie, the rural districts have a ground of complaint. Under these circumstances, any course must involve some evils; and he could see none better than the middle course adopted by Government. Ultimately, Mr. hi. J. O'Connell's amendment was negatived, by 120 to 25.

Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN moved to strike out the clause, on the ground that as the bill generally would effect so great a change in Ireland, any additional change should be avoided. In the subsequent discussion, Su GEORGE GREY mentioned that two months ago there was scarcely a union in Ireland in which the rate amounted to a shilling in the pound. Lord Guoitez Barnum declared that they must not expect to see shilling rates again in Ireland: they would have to provide for 275,000 families out of the poor-rate. Sir GEORGE GREY—" Permanently?" Lord GEORGE BENTINCK—" Yes, permanently. The potatoes are done away with." Did Sir George suppose that 1,500,000 people could be provided for by a shilling rate on 13,000,000L? Mr. O'Brien's amendment was negatived, by 118 to 57.

The Committee again adjourned.

The House sat at noon on Thursday instead of Wednesday, in order to proceed with the clauses.

Before doing so, however, Mr. JOHN O'CoNNELL drew attention to the Treasury minute recently promulgated in Ireland; and he foreboded the most disastrous consequences—loss of life, outrages upon property, and acts of violence—from the sudden withdrawal of employment. It would be different if absolute discretion had been Ieft to the Lord-Lientenant.

LABOUCHERE replied, that the Lord-Lieutenant had it in his power to modify the reduction, making it more than one fifth in some places, less in others, according to the circumstances. The plan had been adopted after mature consideration, as the best for bringing the present mode of relief to a close; but it would be enforced with caution. Meanwhile, it is satis- factory to observe that immense quantities of provisions are pouring into Ireland through the ordinary operations of trade. Mr. Labouchere read a passage from a Cork paper, which stated that 23,000 tons of " bread stuffs" had been landed in Cork since September,—a quantity quite unparalleled in the annals of the country; and that on Monday last there were 150 ships laden with provisions in the Shannon. Sir GEORGE GREY follosied up these reassurances. Lord GEORGE BENTINCK attacked Government for vacillating conduct, especially in not giving an adequate supply of seed. Sir CHARLES WCOD declined to follow the speech which Lord George had repeated with its old charges; and cautioned the House against being led into an ill-timed general discussion. Mr. WILLIAMS, Colonel RAWDON, and Major LAYARD deprecated these pertinacious and futile attacks on Government. Subsequently, Mr. CALLAGHAN recurred to the subject; and,- together with Sir ARTHUR BROOKE and Mr. DILLON BROWNE, urged Ministers to reconsider their determination not to furnish seed. Mr. BELLEW said that there ought to be but one feeling—to support Ministers in theeourse which they have taken. Sir WALTER JAMES produced an illustration of the policy of supplying seed— He begged to ask the attention of the House to a letter contained in the cor- respondence of the Board of Works from Commander Fishbourne,who stated that a Mr. Mahon, in the county of Clare, had provided 800 stone of seed-wheat for some of his tenants, but he found that they ate it. He then had some steeped in sulphate of iron, so that it could only be used for seed, and offered it to them; but they refused it. He then offered to take the land into his own hands and sow it for them, and pay them over the balance; but they refused that. This, surely, was a strong corroboration of the statement which the right honourable Secretary for Ireland had made'[that there is a conspiracy against the tillage of land in Mayo; which Mr. Dillon Browne had denied]. The House went into Committee. On coming to clause 11, Mr. JOHN O'Conweia. moved to strike out that part which increases the number of ex-officio Guardians; resting the motion mainly on two grounds: the ex- officio Guardians, belonging to the landlord class, would act less in the in- terest of the poor than the elected Guardians; and as most of the Magis- trates are Protestants, sectarian prejudices would come into play. To show the undiminished force of religions animosities, he referred to the exe perienee of the "Irish party." It was formed on the principle of union and mutual concession. The Catholic Members performed their part, and none expressed a wish to reduce the exuberant and overgrown revenues'of the Established Church; though part of them might well have been applied to the relief of distress. Mr. Watson introduced his bill to repeal a few empty words. If they could not have voted for the last shreds of worn- out bigotry, the Trish Members on the Opposition side of the House might have staid away. But no; they mustered in force, spoke, and voted against the bill. If this clause were retained, it would be to make pro vision for religions intolerance and persecution. Sir GEORGE GREY deeply regretted the introduction of this discussion involving religious considerations; but defended the clause of the bill, as a necessary provision where the interest of property was so greatly at stake; and he trusted that it would not be productive of the results anticipated by Mr. John O'Connell.

The clause was defended by Mr. &law_ Sir Joins WALSH, Sir CHARLES WOOD, Mr. FITZGERALD, Mr. LEFROY, Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN; opposed by Mr. BELLEW, Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD, Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN, Mr. DILLON BROWNE, Mr. CALLAGHAN, Mr. VILLIERS STUART, (who urged deference to the feelings of the people,) Major LAYARD, and Mr. BICKHAM Escorr.

On a division, the amendment was negatived, by 154 to 26. Mr. Jolts: 0'6ONNELL again divided the House on the clause; and it was affirmed, by 133 to 21. Clauses down to the 17th were agreed to, with some discussion; a few suggestions by Mr. VERNON SMITH and Mr. SHAW being postponed for reproduction at a later stage. The House resumed, and adjourned about a quarter Wore seven o'clock.

IRISH PAUPER INVASION.

On Monday, Sir BENJAMIN HALL called attention to the continued in- flux of Irish paupers into Liverpool, Newport, and other ports of Great Britain. The influx into Liverpool last month amounted to thirty thousand Irish paupers, and the total number which has reached that town is more than sixty thousand. He read the following extract of a letter written by a person in authority at Liverpool- " Many reports were circulated of the cause of this influx of strangers; such as their being forced from Ireland, sent over by societies, and many other tales; which induced me to send, on the 19th of January, two experienced and intelligent Po- lice-constables of the Detective Force of this borough to Ireland, for the purpose of ascertaining, if possible, the real and ostensible cause of emigration. These officers travelled through the counties of Kildare, King's County, Westmeath, Roscommon, Galway, Mayo, add Sligo—mixing with people of different grades; and the result of their inquiries may be summed up thus—The landlord or his agent, perceiving their little stock vanishing and no rent forthcoming, applied for a process of ejectmentOthe cattier and his family, without hesitation, put every- thing portable upon their backs, and make their way towards Dublin, or some other seaport, determined to reach England, where they all understand they will not be allowed to starve. The constables gave the names of certain landlords and their agents who have been most pressing upon their tenants; which it would be unwise in me, perhaps, to promulgate: I Will merely say, that on one estate no- tices had been served on 1,400 tenants; that '1,100 processes were heard and de-

termined in one week in one town, where 5,600 were said to be still pending; and that one attorney in the same barony had 3,000 defences in his hand at one time."

Some allusion was made to the subject on Thursday; when, on the au- thority of Mr. Rushton, the Stipendiary Magistrate at Liverpool, Mr. CARDWELL stated the daily average of the influx in that town to be 2,000 persons. In reply to Mr. GROGAN, Lord Joule RUSSELL stated that a bill to restrain mendicancy and vagrancy was already prepared, and would be introduced.

FEVER IN IRELAND.

On Tuesday, Mr. LABOUCHERE introduced a bill to continue and amend the act of last session for the treatment of poor persons afflicted with fever. It would continue the act until the 1st of September next, and after that to the end of the next session of Parliament. The principal alterations in the new bill were, that the powers now possessed by the Boards of Guard- ians would be transferred to the Relief Committees; and that the expense would no longer be borne in the first instance by the local rates, but by the public funds vested in the Relief Committees; half of the charge to be defrayed eventually by the public money, half by the local rates. Mr. HUME made some objection to the innovation which transferred the expen- ses on account of fever from the local to the national funds; but no oppo- sition was made to the introduction of the bill.

LIMITED ENLISTMENT IN THE ARMY.

In the House of Commons, on Monday, Mr. Fox MAULS moved the second reading of the Army Service Bill; explaining its objects much to the same effect as when he moved the Army Estimates, but more in de- tail. This country is singular in its system of voluntary enlistment; but in order to make it really voluntary, the engagement should be for limited terms. Mr. Maule glanced at recent improvements in the system of the Army: the use of the lash is now disappearing; education has been intro- duced; and obstacles to the introduction of a better class have thus been removed. The present change would further remove such obstacles. He proposed that the term of enlistment for the Infantry should be ten years; for the Cavalry, Artillery, and Ordnance, on account of the longer training necessary in those corps, twelve years. After the expiration of these pe- riods respectively, it would be at the option of the man to reinlist with the benefit of his former service for eleven years in the Infantry and twelve years in the Cavalry. At the time for the expiration of any of these pe- riods, should the regiment be in actual service, the man might be detained for two years longer.

At the end of these terms, the man would also have power to remain in

the service with the consent of the commanding-officer, subject to a three- months notice of leaving. A man leaving the service at the end of ten years would be entitled to enrol himself for a deferred pension. He would then be liable to serve for twelve days in each year, in the same way with the enrolled pensioners at present; and he would be entitled to a pension of 6d. a day, after having served as an enrolled pensioner for a period of twenty-two years; which would be counting two years service of that kind as equivalent to one year of active service. A man in the prime of life might thus enter into other employment, and still by a alight service retain his right to a prospective pension. Experience has justified this practice: the local bodies of pensioners now amount to 13,000 men; they are regu- larly inspected every year; and for all purposes where great exertions are not required, they are as St for duty as they were when they fired their muskets at Waterloo.

le did not extend the provisions of the bill to the soldiers already en-

listed, because he must see how the system of voluntary enlistment would work before he could run the risk of altering the terms of the existing en- listment. But if it were found practicable to extend the provisions of the measure to soldiers already engaged, the prerogative of the Crown would suffice for the purpose. Moreover, under the improvements recently ef- fected, especially by Mr. Sidney Herbert, the position of the soldier with respect to discharges is much better than it used to be—

Under five years of active service in the Infantry, the soldier had to pay 20L

for his discharge, which would apply to a very small number; but after five years' service and one distinguishing mark, he had to pay 181.; after seven years ser- vice and one distinguishing mark, the price was 101.; after ten years' service with the same mark, he would have to pay 61.; after ten years, with two distinguishing marks, he might have his discharge for a trifle; and after fourteen, fifteen, and sixteen years service, if he were a good soldier, he could claim a deferred pension of 4d. or 6d. a day. So far as the present men were concerned, their complaint had no broad basis to stand on; and, so far as it rested with him, if on the one band he refused to those at present in the ranks the privilege he would ex- tend to future recruits ten years hence, yet on the other hand, all the conditions and warrants which had emanated from his predecessor (Mr. Sidney Herbert) should be strictly, literally, and honourably fulfilled with the soldiers. With respect to new recruits, the present proposal would take effect as soon as he could bring it into operation; and if the House agreed to the bill before it, he should proceed to embody the provisions in the Mutiny Act this year.

Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS protested strongly against the bilL He denied

that the limited period of enlistment would introduce better soldiers. The best soldiers now are those made of agricultural labourers. There are in the Army some students and licentiates of medicine, some even of divinity, and many more of law. All these men turn out the worst in the service, but particularly the students of law. He adduced the opinion of Dr. Jack- son against a limited period of service, as unsuited to our colonial depend- encies and very extensive empire. The measure would raise an outcry in every popular constituency: it would be said that the Government had a scheme in hand for making England a military country. With a system of limited service the whole of the late war could never have been pro- secuted so vigorously as it was In the course of that war the Duke of Wellington declared, when it was proposed to bring home some tried Ca- valry regiments, that, however reduced in numerical strength those regi- ments might be, he preferred them to new levies. Sir Howard approved of the Colonial corpa, especially as opening a professional career to young colonists ; but it must be remembered that the attempt to unite the cha- racter of settler with that of retired soldier has uniformly proved un- successful. As to the deferred pensions of 6d. a day after twenty-two years' service in enrolment, they might as well say to the soldier, " we will pay your funeral expenses." The whole scheme, he thought, would prove costly, and detrimental to the public service. The bill was canvassed by several other military Members. It was sup- Ported by Sir De LACY EVANS, (who stated that the Duke of Wellington had acquiesced in the plan,) and by MAJOR LA YARD; opposed by Colonel. REID, Colonel THomas Woon, Colonel LINDSAY, and Colonel Smraentn. In the course of his speech, Major LAYARD touched upon another point. It has been said that the promotion at the Horse Guards is a one sided pro- motion: that view is held by very influential parties, and he must say that he concurred in it. It was averred that the Duke of Wellington's being at the Horse Guards should make no difference as to promotions: but he thought it had made a difference—

There were many officers who maintained principles which till lately had ndt many supporters in the Army, and they all knew how few officers on that side of the House had got promotion. He believed that he himself was the only office{, with the exception of the noble Lord the Member for Lichfield, on the Govern- ment side of the House, who was on full pay. Gentlemen had asked, why,' in these circumstances, officers did not leave the Army ? but that was not a course which any person would choose to follow, though much dissatisfaction might be experienced. When he saw, for example. a man of the same standing with

himself receiving promotion while he was still a Captain—(" and laugh- ter.) Gentlemen laughed, but he wanted to know why, if a man did his duty, he had not a right to expect that promotion would be open to him ? He wanted to know if a man on that side of the House had been twenty-four years in the service, and one on the opposite side only half that time, why the former should not be first entitled to promotion? He could tell the House, that when he brought forward his proposals for military reform, gentlemen had said to him, that they would give him their support, but that they had sons or brothers in the serviog and that their doing so would militate against them. Now he maintained, that officers deserving of promotion ought to obtain it whether they voted for or agent* the Government. (Cheers.) He read a letter from a common soldier, lamenting that the present bill was merely a prospective measure, and held out no benefits to soldiers at present in the service. He would mention an interesting circumstance connected with the Library of Dublin— The right honourable gentleman the Recorder of Dublin was aware— Mr. SHAW was understood to say he had nothing to do with it.

Major Larann—The right honourable gentleman had to do with the Library of Dublin.

Mr. SHAW—" I will know nothing about it." (Laughter.) Major LAYARD continued. It might be so; but he would, nevertheless, make

the tbllowing statement. At the battle of Kinsale, in 1603, the English army, having destroyed the Spanish force, subscribed 1,800/ to raiso a monument, so as to leave a lasting memorial of their gallant achievement. They did not raise any sculptured marble or graven brass; but they sent the 1,800/ to the cele- brated Usher, to found the Dublin Library—of which the right honourable Ro. corder knew nothing. That was the foundation of the beautiful library in the University of Dublin.

The bill was read a second time.

BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY LAW.

In the House of Lords, on Monday, Lord BROUGHAM moved the second

reading of his bill for amending the law of Bankruptcy and Insolvency. The object of the bill was, in the first place, to alter the machinery in CRAGS of insolvency, by transferring to the Insolvent Commissioners the jurisdio. tion formerly given to the Bankruptcy Commissioners. In practice it has been found very inconvenient to mix the two jurisdictions. The six Bank- ruptcy Commissioners, with 2,0001. a year each, have very little to do; and what he proposed was, to take away the Insolvency jurisdiction from the Bankruptcy Commissioners, and to reduce the Commissioners to three. The Court of Review has been substantially abolished; the vacancies in the office of Judge not having been filled up, and one of the Vice-Chaita cellora performing the duties gratuitously. The original business of the Court of Review, however, might be transacted by the Bankruptcy Com- missioners•' appeals on points of law, but not on certificates, being carried before the Lord Chancellor. The expenses of the Court of Review would thus be saved to the public. The Bankruptcy Commissioners have effected a great amount of good: they have set themselves to work up the old com- missions, and have thus brought to light nearly 2,000,0001. of money which had been reclaimed and distributed amongst the creditors of old estates. The circuits taken by the Insolvency Commissioners are a needless expense; Mr. Commissioner Phillips, for instance, has recently had to go all the way to Carnarvon to try one insolvency easel He proposed therefore to abolish the circuits, and to vest the jurisdiction in the Local Judges who had recently been appointed. Ultimately the localizing process might be extended to Bankruptcy law. The great distinction between Bank- ruptcy and Insolvency is, that the certificate in Bankruptcy acts as a pro- tection both for person and for property subsequently acquired; whereas the certificate in Insolvency only protects the person. The reason for the distinction is, that a trader would find no one to trust him if his property were liable to anterior claims; whereas it would be very unjust to exempt property which the insolvent might inherit from claims for his debts. lie proposed now to alter the law so as to exempt the property of the insol- vent subsequently acquired, in cases where the Commissioners did not see any probability of the insolvent's succeeding to property, and where he had incurred his insolvency through misfortune rather than gambling or ex- travagance. Such protection would not, however/ apply to property taken by succession. After the second reading, he would let the bill stand over for consideration during the holydays; to be taken afterwards with a mea- sure by the Lord Chancellor on a similar subject.

The LORD CHANCELLOR agreed in much that had been advanced by Lord Brougham; and he did not oppose the second reading of the bill; but he could not concur in all its details.

Lord Asunuaron suggested that the bill should be referred to a Seleot Committee. He complained of the injury inflicted on the trading public by the present state of the insolvent law; especially the abolition of arrest, which gives great encouragement to bad debts.

Lord BROUGHAM intimated that he should be prepared to revise that part of the law.

The bill was read a second time.

THE SPANISH DEBT.

On Tuesday, Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition to the Peers from the holders of Spanish Bonds [the same which we mentioned last week]. To the aid of English capitalists Spain in great part owes her success in the struggles for national independence. The entire sum advanced by English Bondholders amounts to 70,000,0001.; the revenue of Spain has within a few years increased from about 6,000,0001. to 12,000,0001.; and Lord Brougham hoped that the far-famed "Castilian honour" would prevent the Spaniards from adopting that newly-invented course which has the newly-invented name " repudiation." The Earl of CLARENDON delivered a kind of hortatory protest, spoken at Spain—

Under that system of administration which now existed, the revenues of Spain bad gone on gradually increasing since 1836, until they were now double what

they had been previous to that period; and if the administrative system were con- ducted with prudence and economy—if the attention of successive Ministries were not directed to foreign intrigues sod home finessing—if their exertions were not engaged in paralyzing rather than in developing the resources of the country, Spain would have taken her place as one of the richest and happiest countries in Europe. Spain had no right to plead insolvency; but, at the same time, he must say it had never adopted the new word mentioned by the noble and learned Lord—re- pudiation. It had very often been his duty to make representations to the Span- ish Government on behalf of the Bondholders, and the debt was never denied; on the contrary, it was always acknowledged, and bona fide arrangements were made for the payment of the interest; but before they could be carried into effect, a new revolution occurred, there was a change of Government, and each succeeding Minister seemed to think it his duty to set aside the arrangements of his prede- cessor. In this manner the claims of the British creditors had been deferred, and they had been grievous sufferers; in some cases their loss amounted to total ruin. As individuals no men were more honourable in their dealings than Span- iards; but in a collective capacity, as a Government or Cortes, they had shaken off that individual responsibility, and evaded payment of the debt in a man- ner fatal to their public credit. The petitioners stated it to be the opinion of jurists that the withholding. this payment constituted a casus UM: that was not his opinion, nor did he intend further to allude to it.

In reply to Lord BROUGHAM, the Earl of CLARENDON added, that instruc- tions had been given to Mr. Bulwer to assist the agents of the Bondholders at Madrid.

POST-OFFICE ADMINISTRATION.

On Monday, Mr. MOFFATT asked questions respecting the Post-office Directory. Sir CHARLES Woon stated, that Mr. Kelly, who had bought the concern from his predecessor in office, would be permitted to continue the Directory, but without any assistance whatever from the public ser- vants; who were prohibited from assisting, under heavy penalties.

Mr. THOMAS DUNCOMBE put some questions respecting Mr. Rowland salary and duties; his object being to show that there is a disposition in the Post-office to defeat Mr. Hill's plans. To illustrate that spirit, he mentioned, that in 1842 a placard was posted declaring that any officer belonging to the Letter-carriers Department should be dismissed from the public service if he held communication with Mr. Hill; and notice has recently been given that suggestions from the letter-carriers must be conveyed to Mr. Hill through the heads of that department—Mr. Boken- ham and Mr. Kelly. Sir CHARLES Woon replied, that Mr. Hill's salary is 1,2001. a year. Mr. THOMAS DUNCOMBE—" What are the salaries of the clerks? " Sir CHARLES WOOD could not say. Mr. Hill, however, has been the means of introducing very great reforms into the Post-office es- tablishment.

LEGISLATION BY PREROGATIVE.

On Monday, some reference was made to the Custody of Offenders Bill, and the Prisons Bill, which stood for Committee; and to the procedure with respect to the change in the system of transportation. Mr. EVELYN DENISON wished to know if in Committee on those bills, the Government intended to bring the whole question of transportation under the notice of the House? Sir GEORGE GREY said, that the Government had no such intention, but that the honourable Member for Hertford appeared to enter- tain such a purpose. Lord JOHN RUSSELL observed, that those bills did not commit the House to anything: they merely would enable the Govern- ment to establish a good system.

• Sir JAMES GRAHAM hoped that an opportunity would be afforded of dis- miming the whole question. Sir GEORGE GREY thought there would bo no opportunity before Easter. Mr. HENLEY was of opinion that a de- tailed statement should be made on the part of the Government before the passing of the bill. Mr. Firma wished to know if the Government possessed the power, by means of the Royal prerogative, to alter the whole system of transportation? Sir JAMES GRAHAM said, if those bills were to peas at present without discussion, he hoped it would be with the under- standing that after Easter an opportunity would be given of raising the whole question. If that were understood, he should not object to passing the bills. Sir GEORGE GREY was quite willing to admit that the subject ought to have a full discussion.

The two bills mentioned above passed Committee.

- In reply to Mr. CaavEsr BERKELEY, on Monday, Lord Joint RUSSELL said that Ministers would persevere with the system of education laid down hi the minutes of Council, and that the Education Estimates would be fixed for Monday the 19th of April.

THE FAST. Neither House sat on Wednesday. The House of Lords met at half-past ten o'clock a. in., and proceeded iu a body to Westminster Abbey to attend divine service. The sermon was preached by the Bishop of Llandaff. The House of Commons met shortly before eleven; the Speaker, and a considerable somber of Members, including most of the Ministers, attended the performance of divine service at St. Margaret's Church. Prayers were read by the Reverend Dr. Millman; the Venerable the Archdeacon of Surrey, Dr. Dealtry, preached the sermon.

A NEW WRIT was ordered, on Monday, for East Somersetshire, in the room of Colonel Gore Langton, deceased.

- mats LANDLORDS AND ENGLISH OFFICERS. On Tuesday, Mr. CORNE- LIUS O'BRIEN reverted to his complaint against Captain Wynne. While employed as Inspector under the Board of Works, Captain Wynne wrote an official letter, in which he said that Mr. O'Brien and Major Macnamara, Members for the county of Clare, had held him up, before a rabble of the worst description, for assassina- tion. Mr. O'Brien moved for a Select Committee to inquire into the'charge; in- cluding in the terms of his motion Mr. Samuel Gamble, who had also made incul- patory statements. Major MACNAMARA seconded the motion. Mr. Leason- canna refused his assent to it; because it was couched in language of accusation, whereas there did not exist even a prima' facie case against Captain Wynne —he had executed his difficult task with great zeal and ability. A long and animated conversation followed. Sir ROBERT PEEL suggested t the motion should stand in more general terms, for an inquiry. into the statements made, by Captain Wynne and Mr. Gamble, "and into any circumstances connected there- with which shall appear to them [the Committee] to be fit subjects of inyestiga- lion." To that form of motion Mr. LABOUCHERE assented; Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN moved it by way of amendment; the original motion was withdrawn; and the amendment was affirmed.

Inman FURLOUGH. In reply to Mr. EWART, on Tuesday, Sir JOHN Hort- HOUSE said that a system of furlough for the civil as well as for the military ser- ante of India was under consideration.

Sin Eaarn.Er Munn. In the House of Lords, on Thursday, Lord STAN- tier Moyed'for the production of "correspondence between the Colonial Office and the Governor of Van Diemen's Land respecting the conduct of Sir Eardley Wil- Mot. His reasons involved a statement.. When Lord Stanley-was Secretary for Abe Colonies, in 1846, many reports came to his hands imputing to Sir Eardley,

then Governor of Van Diemen's Land, immorality and improper conduct, and stating that the conduct at Government House was so indecent that no respect- able woman could go there. This rumour was first published in a London paper, the Naval and Military Gazette; and when it reached Van Diemen's Land, it was met by a declaration on the part of all the principal persons there, that what was a "notorious fact" in England was a notorious falsehood in the colony. Meanwhile, Mr. Gladstone, who had succeeded to the Co- lonial 'Office, determined, upon other grounds, to recall Sir Eardley Wilmot; but he also thought it his duty, in a despatch marked "se- cret," to inform Sir Eardley of the reports against his character. Sir Eardley at once denied the reports; laid the despatch before the Legislative Council; and he remained in the colony after the person appointed as temporary administrator of the government had arrived, in order that there might be the most searching investigation on the spot. A Committee of the Council, aided by the Commander of the Forces, the Chief Justice, and a clergyman of one of the principal churches, undertook the inquiry. But they found their task impracti- cable: there was nothing to investigate; the charges were so indirect that they could neither be substantiated nor met. Sir Eardley was willing to invite all who had charges to make; but the Committee saw grave objections to such a course; and they resorted their general view of the subject, stating that in their observa- tion of Sir Lardley's conduct nothing had transpired to justify the allegation that he had been guilty of violating the decencies of private life. The principal in- habitants also held a meeting, which included many of the late Governor's public opponents; and they unanimously gave the most unqualified contradiction to the reports against his private character. Sir Eardley Wilmot, however, had been informed by the Secretary of State, that unless he could refute those charges, he could never again, in any capacity, be employed in the service of the Crown. It therefore became necessary to make the papers public. Lord Stanley's motion was agreed to, nem. con.

THE RECESS. The Lords are to adjourn from Tuesday next until Taesday the 12th of April.

PROGRESS OF RAILWAY BILLS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. BILLS READ A FIRST TIME. Monday, March 22.—Coventry-Banbury-and Oxford Junction.

BILLS READ A SECOND TIME AND COMMITTED. Monday, March 22.—GIMBH-KE. marnock-aud-Ardrosaan (amendment, deviation, and branches).

Thursday, March 25.—North-British (No. 2.)