rthatt5 net Ihurtthingo in Varliamtut.

PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OP THE WEEK.

Horse or LORDS. Monday, August 1. Baron de Bode's Case; Lord Lyndhurst's Motion, negatived by 16 to 6—Entails (Scotland) Bill, passed—Stamp-duties Bill, passed—Sheriff-Courts (Scotland) Bill. committed—India Bill, read a first time. Tuesday, August 2. Danubian Provinces; Question and Answer—Entry of Sea- men Bill, read a second time—Stamp-duties (No. 2) Bill, passed—Coffee and Chi- corp ; Lord Torrington's Statement. Thursday, August 4. Royal Assent, by Commission, to the Succession-duty Bill, the Common Lodging-houses Bill, the Convicted Prisoners Removal and Confine- ment Bill, Savings-Banks Annuities Bill, Colonial Bishops Act Extension Bill, Stamp-duties and Stamp-duties (No. 2) Bills, Common Law Business (Ireland) Bill, Copyholds Bill, Bankruptcy (Scotland) Bill, Customs-duties Bill, Westminster Bridge Bill, and several other Bills—East India Company, Petition presented—She- riff-Courts (Scotland) Bill passed. Friday, August .5. Combination of Workmen Bill, withdrawn—India Bill, read a second time without a division—Entry of Seamen Bill, read a third time.

Horse or COMMONS. Monday, August I. Juvenile Offenders Bill, read a second time—Naval Coast Volunteers Bill, committed—Divisions ; Speaker's Resolutions— Landlord and Tenant (Ireland) Bill, passed—Merchant Shipping Bill, passed— Hackney Carriages Duties Bill, considered as amended—Missionary Bishops Bill, second reading "put off" for three months—Duties on Horses let for Hire Bill, passed.

Tuesday, August 2. Charitable Trusts Bill, committed—Russia and Turkey; Question and Answer—Election Petitions ; Question and Answer—Grievance of the Parsecs Jevanjee Merjee and Pestonjee Merjee; Mr. J. G. Phillimore's Motion— Universities of Scotland Bill, passed—Colonial Church Regulation Bill, order for second reading discharged. Wednesday, August 3. Episcopal and Capitular Estates Bill, withdrawn—Ex- penses of Elections Bill, thrown out—Lunatics Care and Treatment Bill, committed —Naval Coast Volunteers Bill, passed.

Thursday, August 4. New Writ for South Staffordshire—Charitable Trusts Bill, considered as amended—Office of Speaker ; Sir Robert Inglis's Resolution agreed to —Jamaica; Statement by Lord John Russell—Supply, Committee— Education Bill, order for second reading discharged—Betting-house Bill, committed—South Sea Dissentients Bill, read a second time—Smoke Nuisance Abatement Bill, committed.

Friday, August 5. Pilotage Bill, committed—South Sea Dissentients Bill, com- mitted—Supply, Committee—Assessed Taxes Bill, passed—Sheriffs (Scotland) Bill, passed.

TIME-TABLE.

The Lords.

Hour of Hour of Meeting. Adjournment.

The Comment.

Hour of Hour of Meeting. Adjournment.

Monday

511 . . 105 15m

Monday Noon .... 311 55m

Tuesday

5h . . sh 5m Tuesday

6h .(m) 9h 15m

Noon 41, Om Wednesday No sitting Wednesday

611 .(m) 2h less

Noon .... 511 58m Thursday 5h 7h Om Thursday

Noon .. . 411 Om

els .(m) 3h 15m Friday 511 .... 115 35m

Friday

Noon .... 4h Om

6h .(m) lh Om

Sittings this Week, 4; Tune, 155 55m Sittings this Week,

O; Time, 5511 53m

— this Session. 112; — 28711 36nt — this Session. 161; — I090h Gin THE Russo-TURKISH QUESTION.

Ministers were interrogated in both Houses on Monday in relation to the Eastern question. In the House of Commons, Lord DUDLEY STUART asked Lord John Russell, whether he would set apart a day before the prorogation when Mr. Layard might bring forward his motion, so that the Eastern question might be discussed ; " or, at least, when the Government would be pre- pared to lay a statement before the House, explaining to the House and to the country the present state of our relations with the different Powers of Europe ? "

This gave rise to a statement by Lord JOHN RUSSELL, followed by ques- tions from Mr. Disraeli. Lord John said- " Sir, on the last occasion when this important subject was mentioned, the House concurred with her Majesty's Government in opinion that it was not desirable to have a discussion, in the present state of the negotiations, in this House. I am quite ready, however, to give my noble friend and the House all the information that it is at present in my power to give. When the Ambassador of his Majesty the Emperor of Russia left Constantinople, it appeared to her Majesty's Government that it was desirable that there should be a conference with the representatives of all the great Powers of Europe, in order to endeavour to arrive at terms which might put an amicable termi- nation to the differences between Russia and the Sublime Porte. It was the opinion of the Government of Austria that it was not desirable to have any such conference while the matter remained in a state of diplomatic re- lations; and that it would not be advisable to have such a conference unless the Emperor of Russia, by invading the Principalities, should, for a time at least, put an end to the status quo of Europe. When that event occurred, the Government of the Emperor of Austria, in conformity with its previous declarations, declared its willingness to hold a conference, and at Vienna summoned the representatives of all the other great Powers of Europe to attend for the purpose of a conference on the affairs of Russia and Turkey. The Minister of his Majesty the Emperor of Russia did not attend ; but the Ministers of England, of France, and of Prussia attended that conference. Certain terms were there agreed upon, which, in the opinion of the repre- sentatives of the four Powers, might be accepted with honour by the two Governments of Turkey and Russia. Those terms have been assented to by the Governments of England and France, and, according to our belief, have been transmitted from Vienna to St. Petersburg and Constantinople. In this state of affairs, I think the House will feel fully as strongly if not more strongly than it did before, that it is quite impossible for me either to say that we ought to have a discussion upon this important subject, or to fix a day for that discussion. I may assure the House, that, as the time for the prorogation of Parliament approaches, her Majesty's- Government will be ready to give every information they can upon this important question." Mr. DISRAELI—" I wish to ask the noble Lord, whether there in any par- ticular time when her Majesty's Ministers are induced to believe an answer will be returned from St. Peteraburg. Lord JOHN RUSHELL—" I would not like to be responsible for naming any particular time. I do not know exactly bow many days the Government of his Majesty the Emperor.of Russia may take to consider the proposition made to them. I should think that proposition left Vienna probably on Sunday last ; and the right honourable gentleman will be able to calculate as well as I can do how long it may be before an answer can be returned from St. Petersburg." Mr. DISRAELf—" There was a phrase in the noble Lord's answer to the noble Lord the Member for Marylebone, which appeared rather obscure 'to this side of the House. The noble Lord stated that the proposition agreed upon in Vienna had received the approbation of the Governments of France and England. I inferred at the moment, that, of course, it had received The approbation also of the Governments of Austria and Prussia ; but as there seems to be some misapprehension on this side of the House, perhaps the noble Lord will add a word of explanation." Lord JoHN ItussELL—" The proposition was an Austrian proposition, though it came originally from the Government of France; and I have no doubt the Government of Prussia have intimated their assent to it."

In the House of Peers, the interlocutors were the Marquis of CLA.N- RICARDE and the Earl of CLARENDON the subject, the assumption of sovereignty by Russia in the Danubian Provinces. Lord CLANRICARDE said- " Seeing the noble Lord the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in his place, I wish to take the opportunity of putting a question to him with re- sct to certain reports which have lately been received from the Danubian Provinces of Wallachia and Moldavia. According to the accounts in the newspapers, the Russian military authorities appear to have taken entire possession of those countries, and proceeded to administer the government thereof. The reports to which I allude state that the commander of the Russian forces has ordered the Hospodars not to transmit to Constantinople any tribute ; and it is stated in one report that he has gone so far as to say, any tribute paid to the Sultan will be required to be paid over again to his Imperial master. More than that, it is stated that the persons to whom the local administration of the country is intrusted have been ordered to hold no further communication with Turkey. This is virtually and really an as- sumption of the sovereignty of the country by the Czar ; and it is impossible that such an act as that can take place without leading very directly to war. It is of great interest to this country, and to this House, that we should have whatever information can be afforded to us without inconvenience at the earliest moment, because this is a matter of the greatest and deepest im- portance. I hold that it is impossible for Europe, or France, or England, to submit to such an extension of territory in that direction, and to such a diminution of the Turkish empire, without the gravest and most fearful consequences. The matter is of too great importance, , not merely to the political balance of Europe, not merely to the honour of the countries who have been parties to treaties with Turkey, but also to material interests affecting the welfare of all classes of persons, more especially in Germany, in France, and to a great extent in this kingdom, for your Lordships not to desire to have the fullest information that it may be -desirable to give. I trust my noble friend will not think it indiscreet in me if I ask him, whether such accounts as these reports to which I have re- ferred have reached him officially ; and whether he can inform the House how far it is true or not that assumption of sovereignty in the provinces to which I allude by Russia has really taken place ? "

Lord CLARENDON answered nearly as follows- " My Lords, so far from thinking that my noble friend has committed any indiscretion in the question he has now put to me, I can assure him• I take so entirely the same view as he does, as to what will be the result, not only to Turkey but to Europe, and more especially to this country, of any per- manent alienation of that territory to which he has alluded from the Turk- ish empire, that I am glad that he has put to me this question, in order that I may satisfy the public mind, as far as I am able, by giving to my noble friend all the information which I possess. By a despatch dated the 17th of last month, I learned from Lord Stratford de Redcliffe that a communication had been made by the Consul-General of Russia to the Hospodar of MoldaVia, informing him that his relations with the Ottoman Government were to cease ; and that the tribute usually transmitted to Constantinople was to be placed at the disposal of the Russian Government, upon the ground, as it was stated, that although there existed no intention of modifying the existing in- ternal institutions of Moldavia, or altering the existing order of things, yet during the military occupation of the provinces the action of the sovereign power must necessarily though temporarily be suspended. I have to state, also, that the Turkish Government expected to bear similar in- formation from the Hospodar of Wallachia; but I have received this morn- ing a despatch from Mr. Colquhoun, our Consul-General at Bucharest, dated the 22d of last month, in which he says, that up to that time no suoh com- munication had been made to the Hospodar of Wallachia. However, such a communication was naturally expected by the Porte to be made 'to the Hospodar of Wallachia, as well as to the Hospodar of Moldavia ; and it was the intention of the Porte, as soon as it received that intimation, to order the Hospodars to withdraw and cease their offices. He further added, that in that event be should consider it highly improper that the British Consuls in the Principalities should continue to exercise their functions ; and I lost no time in communicating to Lord Stratford de Redeliffe the entire approval of her Majesty's Government in that course. I can only further inform your Lordships, that I shall, by a messenger who leaves tonight, instruct Sir Hamilton Seymour to demand from the Russian Government thatexpla- nation to which we are entitled upon a matter which I view precisely in the same light as my noble friend."

THE DE BODE CASE.

Lord LYNDHURST moved the resolution of which he had 'given notice, and which we quoted last week in a paper on the subject of the Baron de Bode ; concisely summing up the Baron's case, and recommending it to the favourable consideration of the Crown by an address to the Rcuse. So far as the facts were concerned Lord Lyndhurst contented himself with the briefest reference : his argument was, that, by agreeing to the Select Committee on the subject, and receiving the unanimous re- port of that Committee, the House was pledged to take some further step ; the facts of the ease remain uncontested by' Government; the ob- struction of justice having been effected entirely by technicalities. He dwelt somewhat on the question Whether the original claim- ant was a British subject ; and cited the authority of Sir Saninel Romilly, who gave a decided opinion in the affirmative. Lord Lyndhurst showed that the surplus fund bad been disposed of to pay 250,0001. of claims not belonging to the original category, to which the Baron's did belong ; and of that surplus there remains a balance of 68,0001. which has not been accounted for to this day. It would not be honest to meet the claim either by the Statute of Limitations or by the plea that we had appropriated the Money to our own use. The Loan CussrentLoa recited his version'of the facts, and disputed the conclusions of Lord Lyndhurst in tote. He denied that the Baron de Bode was more than legally a British subject ; he was so because he was born in England ; but he lived in Alsace, where his father had purchased property, and he could not speak a word of English. The claim of the Baron de Bode had been made and adjudicated ; the French Government had left us to decide such demands among ourselves ; the disposition of the surplus had been provided for by act of Parliament ; the act had. been fulfilled ; and the case could not be reopened. In passing, Lord Cranworth cited the opinion of Lord Stowell when giving the judg- ment of the Privy Council on the appeal—that "the complainant had completely failed in regard to proving the ownership of the property." With regard to the verdict of a jury in 1844, Lord Cranworth "doubted much the competency of the jury, or any jury in 1844, finding a verdict on the facts which occurred in 1791." The claim was not alone in its rejection ; many others also were disallowed. And Lord Cranworth de- precated the unprecedented course of an address from that House to re- commend to the favourable consideration of the Government a claim which would now amount to about 1,500,0001. sterling, and to pay which an act of Parliament would have to be passed to charge the same to the Consolidated Fund.

Lord TRURO supported the motion with decision and energy. He re- called the fact, that the Baron had never shifted his ground, as his oppo- nents had shifted theirs ; but had always brought it forward on the same ground. He showed that other claims had been paid out of the fund, which had no such foundation in law or justice ; that the misappropria- tion of the fund was .a breach of faith towards the French Government; and that to reject the claim now would be a disgrace both to the House and to the country.

The Earl of HARROWBY observed, that the only ground upon which the claim had originally been resisted was now abandoned, and the lapse of time was almost the only reason assigned. He thought it was a scan-• dal to this country, and honestly believed that it was the amount of the injustice which prevented it from being remedied. He believed that the present, like all other Governments, shrank from the unpopularity of calling upon the public to pay an old debt. The Earl of ABERDEEN asked, what Lord Lyndhurst expected to result from the motion ? [Lord LYNDHURST —" It rests with the noble Earl to say what the result shall be."] Ile thought it was not competent for him to deal with the matter, and he was convinced that no injustice had been committed towards the Baron de Bode. If this claim were admit- ted, not a single rejected claimant but might reopen his case. The Select Committee made their report in June last year : why did not Lord Lynd- hurst press this claim upon Lord Derby while he was at the head of the Government, as that nobleman had expressed in the House of Com- mons an opinion favourable to the Baron's claim? There is not the slightest ground for asking the present Government to reverse the de- cision which all preceding Governments have come to upon a case decided by competent tribunals. In reply to a remark from Lord LYNDHURST across the table, Lord ABERDEEN said, he might have yielded if it were a case in which be bad any discretion to show mercy ; but he feared in cases of this kind justice must precede mercy. The LORD CHANCELLOR inquired whether a division would be called for.? Lord LYNDHURST—" Yes ; I will divide, if I stand alone."

A division took place, and the motion was negatived by 16 to 6.

THE MISSIONARY BISHOPS BILL.

This measure, introduced and carried through the House of Peers by the Bishop of OXFORD, was intended to enable the Archbishop to conse- crate persons in holy orders as bishops without a see ; so that they might perform the functions of bishops in heathen lands. The bill having been brought down to the House of Commons, the second reading was fixed for Monday. Mr. KINNAIRrT moved that the bill be read a second time that day three months. It was a very improper thing to introduce such an important measure at so late a period of the session. Mr. ROBERT PHIL- LIMORE corrected a mistaken supposition that the object of the bill was to introduce bishops of the English Church into other Christian nations : it was not so ; the sole object of the bill was to allow bishops to act as missionaries in heathen countries. Other objections were made, and the second reading was "put off" for three months.

COLONIAL CHURCH REGULATION BILL.

On the order of the day for the second reading of this bill, Lord JOHN RUSSELL moved that the second reading be postponed until Monday, so that the House might see some new clauses prepared by the Solicitor- General.

Mr. KiNsreenat said, he had such strong feeling against the bill that he must oppose it at every stage. The Solicitor-General had told him that it was most objectionable, and thatnothing but a new bill would meet the circumstances of the case. He appealed to Mr. Lowe and Sir William Molesvrorth to say whether the bill would be acceptable to the Colonies. He moved that it be read a second time that day three months.

Mr. HADFIELD seconded and Sir ROBERT INGLIS supported the amend- ment; the latter because this is not the period of the session for consider- ing such a measure.

Sir RICHARD BarBELL asked Members to postpone their opposition till they saw the amendments be would propose. Mr. VERNON Swill. wished to know who, was the real father of the bill; its putative father seemed to be the Solicitor-General. Rut he proposed to change its character ; and was that, a time to take a new measure into consideration ? In Mr. Smith's view, the bill was an interference with the self-government of the Colonies; and as such it had been denounced in the public prints by Sir James Stephen.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, they might reject the bill if they chose to do so; but they could not maintain that they would not enter on the con- sideration of new billssent down from the other House, when night after night they were sending up new bills to that House. Either now or at the beginning of next session the Church in the Colonies must be the subject of legislation. The Church of England is prevented by acts of Parlia- ment from the enjoyment of privileges possessed by the Viresleyans, Bap- tists, and Presbyterians ; and she ought to be placed on a footing of equality. It is not fair, because a very able letter from Sir James Stephen has been published against the measure, that the House should at once condemn the bill.

• UP. HENLEX.WEIS•oppased to proceeding. Mr. ROUNDELL PALMER de- fended the bill; which, he said, had been misrepresented. The bill was simply intended to place the members of the Church of England in the

Colonies in communion with the Church at home, and did not interfere in any way with the religious freedom. of any sects in the Colonies.

Mr. GLADSTONE said, the question has been raised and must be raised again, " How would they deal with respect to the Church in the Colo- nies ? " Neither as a Government nor as individuals were they prepared to maintain for the Church in the Colonies the status of an establishment. The substantial question was, whether it was fair or not, that if the mem- bers of the Church of England in the Colonies were denuded of the privi- leges of an establishment, they should be allowed to fall back on that na- tural liberty of action open to the members of all religious communities. The disabilities and restraints arc nut only imaginary. The Bishop of New Zealand found himself under the necessity of making regulations for the conduct of the religious affairs of the converted aborigines ; but when he sent those regulations home, they were declared invalid and unlawful. Ought such a state of things to exist ? This is not a question for com- plex legislation. A single page is quite enough, not only for an ade- quate law, but for the best law that could be passed upon the subject—a law simply declaring that no statute in force at home should operate to prevent the making of those regulations in the Colonies, and that this should be the extent of their legislation on the subject. But as the House had manifested a disinclination to enter on the subject at presort, Go- vernment would acquiesce in the proposal to allow the bill to stand over to another session of Parliament.

The order was discharged accordingly.

MANAGEMENT OF CHURCH PROPERTY.

The Marquis of BLANDPORD moved the second reading of the Episcopal and Capitular Estates Bill. Mr. WICRAM, Sir ROBERT INGLIS, and Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT, set forth various objections to proceeding with the bill.

Mr. WIGRAX objected altogether to the details, and urged the incon- venience of proceeding further. The period of the session, he said, was too late ; the Cathedral Commission bad not issued its report ; the act for facilitating the enfranchisement of ecclesiastical estates would expire next year, and the whole subject would then come under discussion. Sir Roe BERT INGLIS took his stand on the inexpediency and injustice of the mea- sure, as interfering with the property of the oldest landowners in the country, and proposing to centralize its management. Mr. SIDNEY HER- BERT disagreed with Sir Robert Inglis : the present system does require revision, us it entails scandal on the Church ; but he doubted whether Lord Blandford had hit upon the proper mode of dealing with the sub- ject ; and he suggested, that, looking to the period of the session, it was undesirable to commit the House, by the second reading, to the principle of the bill.

Lord BLasaironn did not ask the House to do more than read the bill a second time. There has been sufficient inquiry, and it is not enough to say that the Capitular Commission has not reported. He argued at some length against the present system, which compels spiritual persons to manage temporal property. Ile seemed disinclined to give way. Sir BENJAMIN HALL supported his views.

Lord JO/IN RUSSELL was sorry that Mr. Sidney Herbert's suggestion had not been accepted. If the bill were pressed to a division, he must vote against it, as a matter of public convenience. This would create an impression as to his feeling on the subject altogether erroneous. The principle of the bill might be a fit principle for Parliament to adopt ; but be would not say whether it was so or nut. In the course of his speech, he explained that the Estates Commissioners had made regulations under which all Bishops and Archbishops would receive the precise income settled by Parliament, neither more nor less; and so that source of com- plaint would be removed. He hoped to see the same principle applied to Capitular estates.

After the strong feeling that had been expressed on the subject, Lord BLANDFORD agreed to withdraw the motion for the second reading ; and accordingly the bill fell to the ground.

CHARITABLE TRUSTS.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL, in moving that the House go into Committee on the Charitable Trusts Bill, made a brief statement. The Government had originally proposed that the administration of charitable trusts, under the bill, should be confided to the Educational Committee of the Privy Council. But the Select Committee of the House of Lords decided that it would be better to separate the general superintendence of charities from party and political interests. To that end, they had proposed, and the Government had adopted their proposition, to appoint persons, tinder the Crown, to hold office during good behaviour, and pay them salaries_ As the bill now stands, one person, who would be a Member of the House of Commons, does not require a legal qualification. That provision it is desirable to retain.

The House having gone into Committee, Lord Joxx RUSSELL, on clause 60, exempting the Universities and other institutions from the opera- tions of the act, moved an extension of the exemptions so as to include funds applicable to persons of the Roman Catholic persuasion or under their control,—an exemption provided for by the act of 1835. The reasons for this were, that it is supposed many of the Roman Catholic charities would not stand strict inquiry, on account of the law with respect to superstitious uses; and that there are doubts as to their legality, which led to these charities not being enrolled under Lord Hardwicke's act, and which rendered them liable to forfeiture and penalties. Lord John thought the act should apply to them ; but at the same time that the law relating to superstitious uses should be amended, and that uses in conformity with the Roman Catholic religion should be accounted as purposes to which Roman Catholic foundations might be applied.

Mr. HENLEY objected, that it was unfair to bring in such an im- portant proposition without notice ; and he suggested its postponement until the report should be brought up. To this Lord Joust RUSSELL as- sentud ; and the bill passed through Committee. When the blouse resumed, Sir FREDERICK THESIGER said, he really must congratulate Lord John Russell and the Government upon the near approach of the passing of this bill, after a delay of thirty years. Ito was quite sure that it would prove highly beneficial. When the bill was considered as amended, Sir FREDERICK. THESIGER raised a strong objection to the proposed exemption in favour of Roman Catholics ; and complained that notice had not been given by Lord John Russell of his intention to move the insertion of the words. Why, he asked, had not the Roman Catholics appealed before ? This VAS a novel proposition ; for the act of 1835, exempting Catholics, was addressed to a preliminary inquiry, and was not intended as permanent legislation; and in no bill brought in since 1844 had they been exempted. It would

be for the interest of the Roman Catholics that their trusts should be in- cluded.

Lord join( RUSSELL said, that the Roman Catholics' not having ap- pealed before, was no reason for resisting their appeal now. He had been informed by a Roman Catholic barrister, that many of their trusts were void in law on account of the statute forbidding bequests for super- stitious uses. That induced him to move their exemption from the ope- ration of the bill. Ho had given notice as early as he could, and when appealed to he had given time.

"If I cannot," said Lord John, "on the one side, relieve the Roman Ca- tholics from the just apprehension that their charities may be rendered null and void by the provisions of this act,—and if I cannot, on the other hand, frame a clause by which those charities may be saved from such cense- quences,—I think it is a case for exempting them for the present from the operation of this measure." It is one thing to permit the silent violation of the law, and another to be called upon by the report upon a charity to en- force the law. It was said that there was no security that the exemption would not be perpetual : but Mr. Headlam had intimated that he would propose an amendment limiting the exemption to two years ; and Lord John agreed to accept that amendment in lieu of his own.

Accordingly, Mr. HEADLAM proposed his amendment to that effect. The House divided on it ; and it was adopted by 87 to 76, and added to the bill.

The third reading stands for Monday evening.

MERCHANT SHIPPING.

The Merchant Shipping Bill was read a third time. On the question that the bill do now pass, various amendments were proposed.

Sir JAMES GRAHAM carried a clause, to the effect that no claim for salvage service should be allowed in respect of loss or risk of her Majesty's ships or properly.

Mr. Hurr moved a clause, in substitution for three clauses in the bill, enacting that seamen should not be permitted to desert merchant-ships to enter the Queen's service under any circumstances, and taking away the power from the Royal Navy to remove seamen from merchant-ships.

Sir JAMES GRAHAM opposed the clause. It is necessary, he said, that there should be some protection for seamen in the merchant service from ill usage; and this power of the Navy affords a check. The Admiralty would prevent by stringent regulations the abuse of the power of ob- taining volunteers; but as a question of policy, it is necessary to retain the power. In 1852, 170 volunteered. Their reasons were classed as follows—

Wish to join the Navy, 61 ; bad usage, 12; bad provisions, 8 ; both bad usage and provisions, 7 ; quarrels with master or mates, 13; discontent, 61; ships foundered or wrecked, 6; no cause assigned, 2. With regard to the consent of masters of merchant-ships, he found the state of the ease to be— Cases in which masters made no objection to the men leaving, 130; cases in which masters did object, 21; cases not ascertained, 13; ships wrecked as before, 6.

After brief discussion, the clause was negatived by 129 to 49.

Captain SCOBELL proposed a clause, providing that the crews should be after the rate of one apprentice to first 100 tons, one boy to every addi- tional 100 tons, and one seaman to every 25 tons ; that one apprentice above seventeen years of age might be reckoned as one seaman on every 100 tons and nine seamen be counted for eight seamen and two boys on every 200 tons beyond the first 100 tons. Shipwrecks that arise from vessels' being undermanned are on the increase. But it was argued against the clause, that it would improperly impose restrictions on ship- owners ; and the House rejected the clause by 154 to 7.

Mr. INGHAM moved an amendment on clause 29, enacting that vessels employed in the coasting trade should be exclusively manned by British seamen. Negatived by 104 to 35.

The bill then passed.

COAST VOLUNTEERS.

In Committee on the Naval Coast Volunteers Bill, Sir JAMES GRAHAM formally retracted an opinion he held some six or seven months ago with respect to the Militia. He had not then been sanguine that voluntary enlistment for service on shore would take place to the extent which had been already witnessed. In France every seafaring man is compelled to serve in the naval force ; but he was desirous of exhausting every means before resorting to compulsion. The bill before the Committee was based on the principle of voluntary enlistment.

There is a very large number of menliving upon our shores, such as fisher- men, bargemen, lightermen, and men employed in the coasting service, who, he had every reason to believe, would not in a time of peace be unwilling, as the men who had joined the Militia had not been unwilling, for a short period in each year to be trained to the use of great guns. 'These persons having more or leas marine habits and experience, such training would be easy to them ; it would accord with their habits of life, and would not be un- congenial to their past manners or past tastes. It is proposed in the bill now about to be brought in, to hold out to them exactly the same pecuniary inducement which was offered to landsmen joining the Militia service, and which had been found to work so successfully. The bounty would be 61., paid in such sums and distributed over such a period as the Admiralty might recommend. The number of men that they propose to raise in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, is limited to 10,000; and their period of training is limited to twenty-eight days. That training ought to take place either ashore or afloat, subject to the con- dition, if they were afloat, that they should not be taken more than fifty leagues from the coast of Great Britain or Ireland. It was proposed that their pay should be equal to that of able seamen in her Majesty's service. The period for which the enlistment is to take place is not to exceed five years. Power is given to her Majesty, in the event of an invasion or of im- minent danger of invasion, to call by proclamation for the services of those men afloat for a period not exceeding one year, except in case of the extension of that danger for a longer period ; where, under the special circumstances epecified in the bill, and subject to those circumstances being laid before Parliament, the power of extending that service to two years is given to her Majesty in Council. In that ease, however, an additional pay of 2d. a day would be given to each man. In the event of service afloat, there is a power, by proclamation, to extend the distance from the shores of Great Britain and Ireland from fifty to a hundred leagues. In no case would the volunteers be asked to extend their services to a greater distance from their native country. There is also power taken by the bill, under proclamation, to com- pel the service afloat of pensioners of the Coast Guard and of Seamen Rig- gers. In the event, which he hoped and believed is far distant, of any such danger as the bill contemplates being either imminent or apprehended, he believed that a force could be readily provided of somewhere between 18,000 and 20,000 men ; which considering that they would be men trained to arms in the prime of life, and partaking of the national character of British seamen,

would, when combined with the advantages of a steam fleet, be amply suf- ficient for the defence of our native shores.

The brief discussion of the bill in Committee led to no alterations, and the bill was ordered to be reported.

JUVENILE OFFENDERS.

Mr. ADDERLEY moved the second reading of his bill to enable counties and boroughs to establish reformatory schools for young criminals ; intro- ducing a new treatment of them, that of industrial training. He feared the bill could not be passed this session, but he hoped for success in the next. He showed that out of 28,000 criminals committed in one year, 13,000, nearly 50 per cent, are under the age of seventeen. He stig- matized the present system as " impolitic," because it aggravates the danger it was intended to remedy ; as " arbitrary, capricious, and un- certain," because, resting on no recognized principle, it allows magistrates to treat criminal children at their discretion.

Mr. MONCKTON MILNES, Mr. BAINES, Lord PALMERSTON, Mr. HEN- LEY, and Sir JAMES GRAHAM, supported and discussed the principle of the bill.

Mr. HUME was the only dissentient speaker. He objected to the measure, because it would add another eleemosynary institution to the Pdor-law establishment, would encourage persons to rely on charity, and would recognize the principle of maintaining the poor out of the Con- solidated Fund.

In the course of an interesting speech, Mr. BAINES protested against the employment of workhouses for the purpose of reforming young criminals. It is of first-rate importance that these children should receive an industrial training. Recommending the report of the Committee on Juvenile De- linquents to the attention of Members during the recess, he stated that it would afford ground for encouragement and hope. Lord Permansvox said, the machinery of the bill would require mature consideration ; particularly with the view of combining the objects of the bill with those of the Juvenile Mendicancy Bill, which recently came down from the Lords, but which could not be disposed of this session.

Sir JAMES GRAHAM mentioned, that the Government are not prepared to admit that provision of the bill which would charge the expenses of these establishments on the Consolidated Fund. He did not see why reformatory schools might not be provided in each union and paid for out of the rates.

The House agreed to affirm the principle of the bill, without a division, on the understanding that the measure should be introduced next session. The bill was committed, pro forma, for that day three months.

JAMAICA.

On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, on Thursday, Lord Joux RUSSELL stated the intentions of the Government with respect to the Island of Jamaica. His speech was in substance but a repetition of the more copious explanation already delivered' by the Duke Of NeWeastle in the other House of Parliament.

Sir JOHN PAKINGTON, repeating his old opinions, that the policy of 1846 was most unwise and had proved most disastrous, and referiing to the present ruined state of Jamaica as a fulfilment of his anticipations, Mmitted that the proposals made by the Government were such that" no possible exception could be taken on the Opposition side of the House. He thought it right to state, in order to fortify the hands of Government, that had the late Government dealt with the .subject, they would -have sought those concessions from the Colonial Assembly in regard to matters of finance which form an indispensable part cf the Government plan. That plan would give most effectual relief : he only doubted whether an inquiry by Commission would not have been the better mode of proceed- ing. No doubt whatever could be felt as tritheir wisdom in selecting Sir Henry Barkly for Governor - whom he eulogized for his administration in Guiana. Sir John objected to the policy of decreasing the salaries of public officers : that was the only part of the proposal to which he took any exception. Mr. MIME and Mr. JOHN MACGREGOR approved of the plan. Mr. MILNER GMSON and Mr. HADFIELD put in a word for a cheap and Uni- form Colonial postage; and the subject dropped—the House going into Committee of Supply.

AN INDIAN GRIEVANCE.

Mr. J. G. Pnimmonn, on the motion for going into Committee of Sup- ply, moved an address, praying that the case and memorial of the Parsee merchants Jevanjee Merjee and Pestonjee Merjee might be referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. The two Parsecs had lent money to the Nizam to enable him to pay up his contingent; and he had secured the debt on a mortgage of land, placed in the possession of the merchants. But when the Nizam thought they had paid themselves, he drove them out ; and the land is now in the hands of the East India Company, who have accepted it in payment of the debt due to them from the Nizam. It was argued that the British Resident virtually guaranteed the loan ; and that the Company are morally bound to see it repaid. Mr. J. B. SMITH seconded the motion, and enforced the same views. Sir CHARLES WooD looked at the matter in a different light. It was solely a question between the merchants and the Nizam—an ordinary mercantile transaction ; and so far from giving a guarantee, the British Resident had especially and formally refused to do anything of the kind. The assignment of the land was simply deposited at the house of the Re- sident. Lord Hardinge and Lord Dalhousie had both decided against this claim ; and it is contrary to our policy to interfere with the debts of the Native Princes.

The discussion occupied a long time. Mr. H. LIDDELL, Mr. DIGBY SEYMOUR, Mr. BRIGHT, Mr. INGHAM, and Mr. HITME, supported the mo- tion for inquiry ; Sir JAMES HOGG and Mr. MANGLES resisted. On a di- vision, the motion was negatived by 111 to 69.

HACKNEY CARRIAGE DUTIES BILL.

On the consideration of this bill as amended, further amendments were made. Mr. LOWE moved a clause, to the effect that where a cab is hired by time, after the first hour the cabman may demand for every quarter-of an hour, or less, 6d_ in addition to the 2s. for the whole hour. The clause was agreed to. Mr. FREWEN moved the omission, in clause 9, of the words " the circumference of a circle the radius of which shall be four miles from Charing Cross." This was negatived : but Mr. Lows agreed to substitute " Temple Bar" for Charing Cross, as more just to the East- ern districts of the Metropolis.

SUPPLY.

In the Committee of Supply, Mr. HUME objected to the vote of 55,8401. for the expenses of the British Museum, because certain recom- mendations of the Royal Commissioners had not been carried out. Sir ROBERT INous stated that the trustees had adopted as many of the re- commendations as were for the advantage of the Museum. Great ac- commodation had been provided of late, but there was still a deficiency of room for printed books. Sir WILLIAM MOLESWORTH stated that the Board of Works had lately given in their report of plans for increased accommodation ; they are under the consideration of the Government, and he hoped that before the next meeting of Parliament steps to carry them out would be taken. Mr. Resin withdrew his opposition, and the vote was agreed to.

On the vote of 58201. for repairing the House of the British Ambassa- dor at Paris, Mr. WISE asked for some explanation. Sir WILLIAM MOLESWORTH gave a description of the state of the house, on the author- ity of an architect, Mr. Albano, sent to inspect and report. The house was in a most dilapidated state. The verandah round the house had fallen down; the walls were in a state of decay ; the diningroom espe- cially was in a most dilapidated state • the house had not been painted for several years ; the staircases were unsafe; the cesspools were exhaling a most offensive effluvium ; the rooms were full of vermin, which were running over the tables ; and maggots were in every place, on the furniture and on the curtains; while the carpets were stained by the dirt of dogs and cats. (Laughter, and cries of "Oh !") Upon receiving that report, the Treasury ordered a sum to be paid out for effecting repairs. The sum required will be 9213/., but only 58201. this year.

A good deal of discussion ensued. It appeared that a sum of 10001. has been annually voted for repairs, and not so applied. Explanation was demanded and pressed for by Members ; but none was forthcoming. Mr. WILSON said, it was involved in mystery, and inquiry would be needed. Mr. Hume was for postponing the vote; but this was generally objected to, and it was passed.

A division was taken on one vote-21751. for rewards to Captain Dun- lop, R.N., and the crew of the Alert, for rescuing slaves on shore in the territory of " King Biombo." The question, raised by Mr. HUME, was as to the legality of the payment. The vote was carried by 117 to 25.

The vote of 70,0001. for defraying the expenses of the Houses of Parliament was discussed. The sum expended since 1835 has amounted, with this vote, to 1,600,0001. The present vote was for outstanding ac- counts. Various Members made complaints. It requires two men to watch the lights and prevent the House from taking fire. Eight out of every nine windows would not open.

" There are," said Mr. BOWYER, "very handsome windows in the me- diaeval style, ornamented with all sorts of strange animals; but they serve no one purpose for which windows are intended. They do not admit light, in consequence of the extraordinary beasts painted upon them ; and they do not admit air, because they will not open." (Laughter.) Mr. BRIGHT said, Sir Charles Barry was like an old horse with the bit between his teeth. Mr. BALL described a wonderful machine iu the "lower regions," with beautiful fans for fanning the smoke and soot down into the House. Ventilation was warmly discussed, as usual. A com- plaint was made that certain lights had been placed under the gallery without the Lighting Committee's having been consulted. Sir WILLIAM Mo4sworris explained, that the lights under the gallery had been placed there at the express wish of the Speaker, who fOtind that he could not see the faces of Members who sat there, and who were too often disorderly. Lord SEYMOUR hoped the remuneration of the architect would be settled before next session. Mr. GLADSTONE said, Sir William Molesworth had done all that man could to settle this difficult matter : they would try to settle it during the recess. In the end, the vote was agreed to.

EXPENSES or ELECTIONS BILL.

There was a good deal of discussion on this bill, both on the motion for going into Committee, and when that motion was agreed to. Colonel Smruoiw, characterizing the bill as " mean, low, and dirty," divided the House against going into Committee : but his motion was negatived by 85 to 19 ; and the House went into Committee.

On clause 1, disqualifying candidates for employing bands, bell-ringers, or flagmen, Mr. COWPER moved that the penalty should be 100/., instead of disqualification. On this there was much talk ; during which Sir demo GRAHAM suggested that the best course would be to give up the bill, and go on with the next order on the paper—the Lunatics Care and Treatment Bill. This suggestion provoked the indignation of Mr. HENRY BERKELEY ; who complained, that in the face of the majorities on pre- vious stages of the bill, an attempt should be made to pick it to pieces by the First Lord of the Admiralty in command of a minority. After two divisions, the amendment was adopted by 73 to 48. Mr. LIDDELL then moved that the penalty be 100s. Upon this there was more debate. Mr. W. F. HU3IE moved that the Chairman report progress, and ask leave to sit again on that day month. Carried, by 66 to 45. Thus the bill is virtually defeated.

ELECTION PETITIONS.

Mr. THosus DUNCOMBE drew attention to the present defective state of the law for the trial of controverted elections, founded on the report of the Committee in the Norwich Petition case. He reprobated the prac- tice of " pairing off" petitions.

During this session, 133 election petitions have been presented ; of these 59 have been withdrawn—all mostly what is called " paired off" ; five are now pending. The alteration in the law which he hoped the Government would propose, and which he believed would be the only effectual cure for this system of pairing off petitions, was, that no petition, when once presented and laid on the table, should be withdrawn; at all events, that it should not be so without another petition stating the reasons why it should be withdrawn, and signed by those who had signed the ori- ginal petition. That petition for withdrawal might be referred to an officer of the House appointed for the purpose. The House are aware, that when an election petition is presented recognizances must be entered into ; but it ought to be imperative on the parties in the first place to lodge whatever sum it may be thought proper to require in the Bank of England, and to do away with those recognizances and the litigation before the Examiner. He proposed simply to let the money be lodged in the Speaker's name, and not to let it be withdrawn till all parties be satisfied that, under the circum- stances, it ought to be so. He wished to have an assurance from the noble Lord that this subject would undergo the serious consideration of her Ma- jesty's Government. Supposing another general election were to take place -before the system is altered, the same part would be acted over and over again by Parliamentary agents. They were acting strictly according to law, and he did not blame them.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL quite agreed with Mr. Duneombe, that there are abuses committed under the system of withdrawing election petitions, , which it is essential to put a stop to. The matter has been under the

consideration of the Government, and a bill for amending the law of con- troverted elections is already prepared and will be introduced early next session.

THE ,NEW REFORM Buss It appears that what Lord BROUGHAM said yesterday week respecting the new Reform Bill was misreported. On Monday he set himself right. We quote from the Times- " It had been supposed that ho had called upon the Government to in- troduce a large measure of reform. A large measure of reform ! why, this was not 1830—it was not even 1831—but 1853 ; and, therefore, he did not call for what was usually called a large measure of reform. All he had done. wag to venture to express a hope that, if the Government thought it neces- sary to bring forward any measure of reform, care would be taken to frame it so as to improve the constitution of the other House of Parliament as well as the constituent body. What lie had said rather tended to show that he was calling, not for a large measure, but for a measure well-considered and effectual for its purpose."

THE GREAT CHICORY QUESTION.

Viscount TORRINGTON presented a petition to the Lords from the mer- chants and planters of Ceylon, complaining of the present Treasury minute which allows chicory to be mixed and sold with coffee. He pointed out the evil effect of the minute upon the trade and the public. Pure coffee cannot be bought by the poor ; its consumption has largely declined; some tradesmen mix 99 per cent of chicory with coffee, and, taken in such large quantities, it is injurious to health. The minute is not properly carried out ; both the Secretary of the Treasury and the Chairman of In- land Revenue show a disinclination to prosecute. Would Lord Aberdeen. appoint a Committee next session to inquire into the working of the Trea- sury minute, as an act of justice to the Colonial interest and the poor ? The Earl of ABERDEEN said, he would gladly see an end of "the great chicory question." The alterations made by the present minute were rendered necessary by the hardship and inconvenience to which the com- mon people were put in using coffee.

Chicory is not a deleterious substance ; half the coffee in Europe is chicory —it is preferred by the mass of coffee-drinkers. Their Lordships might pre- fer pure coffee, but the mass prefer the mixture. People could not mix the articles if bought separately ; for chicory is sold in the form of a solid cube. It is a most unwarrantable assertion to say that the officers neglect their duty. There are 130,000 persons licensed to sell coffee ; each of whom has been served with a copy of the general order of the Board. The officers have made 2527 special visits, for the purpose of buying samples, which have been analyzed ; and 470 prosecutions have been instituted, not one without a conviction. The noble Lord must now admit that they have shown ac- tivity and honesty in carrying out the provisions of the Treasury minute. Neither was it correct to state that the consumption of coffee has de- creased. In the three months ending July 1852, the quantity taken out for home consumption was above 8,000,000 pounds ; and in 1653 it was 8,977,000 pounds. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had instituted the most deliberate inquiry before he issued the minute : he had done so because the minute of the late Government would not work well ; and the public demand, and the conveniences of the lower classes, especially, required its alteration.

A conversation followed; which, however, led to nothing, beyond the expression of the opinions of individual Peers.

ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.

In reply to Mr. HUME, Mr. GLADSTONE stated that the application of the Royal Geographical Society for rooms to accommodate them, or a grant equivalent to the accommodation sought, had been under the con- sideration of Lord Aberdeen ; who had approached it having the strongest sympathy with the Society and the fullest disposition to acknowledge its merits. There were considerations which rendered it difficult to consider the case apart from that of other societies; but lie took the opportunity of making public the fact, that attention had been directed to the great merits of this society, and to the claim it had on the consideration of the Government for such aid as might be given on a reasonable scale.

THE SPEAKER.

On the motion of Sir ROBERT INGLIS, seconded by Lord JOHN RUSSELL, the following resolution was carried without opposition.

" That, whenever the House shall be informed of the unavoidable absence of Mr. Speaker, the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means do take the chair for that day only ; and, in the event of Mr. Speaker's absence con- tinuing for more than one day, do, if the House shall think fit, and shall so order it, take the chair in like manner on any subsequent day during such absence."

DIVISIONS.

Last week, Mr. MUNTZ carried a resolution permitting strangers to re- main in the House during divisions, and making amendments in the mode of taking them. On Monday, the SPEAKER, announced that preparations had been made for carrying out the new mode of taking divisions. He proposed that the following rule should be laid down, which he hoped would be satisfactory- " When the House is about to proceed to a division, the Speaker will direct strangers to withdraw' ; upon which the Sergeant will see that the seats below the gallery, and in the front gallery, are clear ; and the Clerk will turn the sand-glass. As soon as the sand is run out, the Clerk will in- form the Speaker ; who will call 'Order,' preparatory to putting the ques- tion. The Sergeant will, upon the call of eider, half-close the door, and keep it half-closed as long as there are Members in sight approaching the door of the House. When Members are no longer in sight, the Sergeant will close the door, and will lock it upon the Speaker putting the question."

LATE SITTINGS.

Late on Monday night, Mr. BROTHERTON protested against the habit of sitting, late, and stated that he should move the adjournment of the House if any measures were opposed. On the proposal to proceed in Committee on the Pilotage Bill, at half-past one o'clock, opposition was made. A motion for reporting progress was negatived by 97 to 27 ; but, repeated in another form—that the Chairman do now leave the chair—it was successful, and the House resumed.

ELECTION COMMITTEES.

The Committee to inquire into the allegations against Earl Fitzwilliam continues to sit. Some witnesses have given doubtful evidence, bearing out the assertion that Lord Fitzwilliam paid " crowns" as a custom to scot and lot voters ; that some voters have lost their custom on account of voting against the Milton interest, and some have received notice to quit. These assertions are denied by the agents of Earl Fitzwilliam.