POSTSCRIPT.
SATURDAY NIGHT.
In the House of Lords, last night, the Duke of ARGYLL gave notice- that in case the subject of the Scotch Church was not taken up by some other member of the House, he should introduce a measure whil- e view to pat an end to existing dissensions.
The Bishop of Lorimar directed the attention of the Lord Chamber- lain to the masquerades that were performing at Drury Lane Theatre during Lent. The performances, as described in the papers, were most disgraceful and demoralizing, and ought to be prevented. The Earl or UXBRIDGE said he had made a representation of the case to the Drury Lane Theatre Committee ; and he had obtained a promise that the exhi- bitions complained of should not be repeated. As those entertainments- were not dramatic performances, he as Lord Chamberlain had no. power to interfere. The Earl of GLENGALL, as Chairman of the Com- mittee, stated that they had no power under their lease to prevent the present lessee, who is a Jew, from having those exhibitions. He had,. however, promised that the portion of the exhibition objected to should not be repeated. The lease of the theatre expired to-morrow.
The Bishop of Lcornme gave notice, that on Friday next be should move an address to her Majesty, praying her to withhold her Royal sanction from the ordinance for incorporating the ecclesiastics or the Seminary of Saint Sulpice.
The Earl of GLENGALL, in moving for a copy of the correspondence between the Poor-law Commissioners and the landowners of Clonmel, complained of partiality to political partisans in the administration of` the poor-law in Ireland; and made some distinct charges to show such had been the case. The Duke of WELLINGTON also complained of the conduct of the Commissioners, and threatened a motion for investi- gation on Monday ; but, at the request of the Marquis of NORMANBY, the- motion was postponed till Thursday, to enable him to obtain explana- tions from the Commissioners.
In the House of Commons, Lord Jona RUSSELL gave notice, that on Thursday next he would move that the House go into Committee on the Poor-law Act Amendment Bill, pro:forma, as he wished to have time for introducing certain amendments. He would afterwards move for the Committee on the bill that day fortnight.
Mr. LABOUCHERE stated, in answer to a question from Sir ROBERT PEEL, that it was his intentiomto proceed with the Railway Bill on that day week. Sir ROBERT intimated his intention of moving that the bill be referred to a Select Committee.
On the report of Lord Keane's Annuity Bill, Mr. Humes motion for the postponement of the bill till the production of the correspondence be- tween the Board of Control and the East India Company, by whom he contended the annuity ought to be paid, was negatived, by 127 to 35.
The Navy Estimates were considered in Committee ; and all the votes, proposed were agreed to without a division. In the course of the dis- cussion that occurred on some of the votes, the hostile position of affairs between this country and the United States was alluded to by several Members ; but Ministers made no statement on the subject.
Mr. MACAULAY brought forward the Army Estimates. He said the total Estimates for last year amounted to 6,185,000/. ; those for the pre- sent year would be 6,158,0004 which is a decrease of 27,0001. Mr. Hintz complained that the Reform Ministers had not redeemed their
pledge of economy. Sir H. HARDINGE, Lord Homes, and Captain BoLosao, on the other hand, contended that the Estimates were not sufficient to place the Army on a proper footing, and to enable the troops on.foreign service to be relieved as they ought. Sir Bonsai. PEEL, without distinctly saying the Estimates were Insufficient, urged the ne- cessity of not neglecting precautions for defence when all nations were preparing for war. Lord JOHN RUSSELL thought the increase which had been made within the last few years was sufficient for the exigencies of the times.
Mr. Hums then brought the conduct of Lord Cardigan before the notice of the House, and :censured the Government and the par- tiality of Lord Hill for protecting him. Mr. MACAULAY vindicated Lord Hill's general administration of the affairs of the Army. His Lordship was of opinion there was no case for a Court-martial on Lord Cardigan : that to dismiss him without trial would be unjust ; and as to putting him on half-pay, that would be an abuse, because half-pay is a retainer for future service, and if he were unfit to serve he ought not to be retained. Lord Howxcs, Sir Ds LACY EvANs, and Mr. HAWES thought an inquiry ought to be instituted. Sir H. HARDINGE defended Lord Cardigan ; and Lord dons RUSSELL and Sir H. VIVIAN defended Lord Hill ; and thus the subject dropped.
The votes were all agreed to, without a division ; and the House ad- journed at one o'clock, till Monday.