POSTSCRIPT.
SATURDAY.
The second reading of the Oxford University Bill, in the House of Commons last night, passed without practical opposition ; though pre- faced by the expression of considerable ditsidences and hesitation, and qualifying suggestions friendly or adverse, by Sir Jon a PAILINO'TON, Mr. Wm :Iasi, Mr. GOULBURN, Mr. HENLEY, Mr. WPOLE, and others. Sir 'WILLIAM HEATHCOM in opening the debate, expressed assent to the, principle of the bill, but took exception to the treatment of the great and smaller Schools in the matter of Fellowships and Scholarships. Mr. BYNO made a promising maiden speech in fanour of the bill. Sir JOHN Plarnscrrox gave only a qualified assent to the second reading ; objecting, that the bill invaded the designs of the founders; that it was drawn up in distrust of every University authority ; and that it tyrannically destroyed the self-government of the Colleges. Mr. Bracxprr and Mr. WARNER found the bill not sufficiently far-going. Lord ROBERT CECIL, in a maiden speech, attacked the bill, as fraught with injustice and hostility to the University. Mr. ROUNDELL PALMER supported the principles of the bill ; but he thought the School question had not been sufficiently considered. Mr. GliensTosin made a vigorous debating speech ; taking up and replying to the objections raised against the measure, which he described as an emancipating one. Mr. WerthoLE, on the contrary, complained of the compulsions of the bill, as uncalled for by the necessities a the case : all that Parliament could fitly do in the matter was to pass an enabling bill. After a brief reply from Lord JOHN RUSSELL, delivered just before two o'clock, the bill was read a second time.
In reply to Mr. BOWYER, Lord Jon-sr RUSSELL said that the Commis- sion for the Consolidation of the Statutes expired on the 31st of March ; that the results of its labours had been placed in the hands of the Lord Chancellor ; who, if he were satisfied, by an examination, that they wduld form a foundation for the consolidation of the statutes, the Com- mission would be appointed for a term of years.
In the House of Lords, Earl Grey, making a motion for papers, brought forward the whole subject of Army Administration. He spoke at very great length, and copiously illustrated, by reference partly to his own ex- perience, and partly to Parliamentary reports, the mismanagement of the Army under the present cumbrous and inconvenient system. He referred with much minuteness to the loss of 6700 British soldiers in Jamaica, during the twenty years ending with 1857, in consequence of their food being chiefly salt provisions ; and to the loss of men by bad barracks in Trinidad, St. Vincent, and Sierra Leone. All these grievances were pointed out years before they were remedied, in consequence of the appli- cations which it was needful to make to the departments, increased by the number of independent jurisdictions. For example, in 1835, Lord Grey discovered the frightful mortality in Jamaica in consequence of the supply of salt meat. He, as Secretary at War, could not interfere in the victualling, and he had to refer to the Treasury. His first letter was written on the 30th January 1836, followed up by "a mountain of letters" in his own handwriting. His first answer was received on the 28th January 1837. Early in 1838, be pointed out that salt meat was still used in the supplies for Bermuda ; in October 1840, the requisite improvement was effected. He showed, with less minuteness of detail, other inconveniences, arising from the distribution of authority in so many public offices ; and he ad- vanced the proposal made by Sir Willoughby Gordon in 1810, to place the powers severally allotted to the Secretary for War, the Master-Ge- neral of the Ordnance, and the Paymaster-General, into one great office, each officer transacting his own departmental business like the Ordnance Board, but the whole conferring together and acting under the presiding influence of a Principal Secretary of State. As Secretary at War for twelve years, he had experienced the greatest inconveniences arising from the present system : without minutely suggesting details, he insisted that there must be some improved arrangement; and he suggested the con- stitution of a Board under a fourth Secretary of State.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE did not oppose the motion for papers. He did not deny that there arc faults in the present system ; but contended that Lord Grey's facts, referring to remote periods, did tot prove his case; and that he had shown that the abuses alleged were remedied even under the existing system. Meeting some of Lord Grey's statements With detailed criticism, and combating his main proposal for a change,
the &blared that during his own limited experience there had been the greatest promptitude of action and the greatest harmony between the reslideane departments. The best tek of the working of any systere is a time of pressure ; and the existing system stands that test, for under no circumstances had a military expedition ever before left England in higher condition or with greater despatch than the expedition to Turkey. To make the proposed alterations at pre-tent' woad be to dislocate the whole of the existing machinery, and Woad lead tifs most' disastrous consequences.
Lord HARDINGE made some eirplanatertstatethentir. The Earl of ELLENHOEOUGII followed up Lord Grey's remarks in a more generalized manner ; objecting, hoivever, to administration by a Board, and intimating that he should folio* ntillie alibied' further after Easter.
Lord PANMIIRE contributed from his own experience several theta, tending in the main to Support-Lord Grey'e- views; He bad long been of opinion that there should be a War Minister; but-he-thought any change in the system should be gradual.
In reply to the Earl of Satirises-env', the Earl' of AlontnnEsr stated, after communication with the. Archbishop of Canterbury, that Wednesday the 26th of this month has been appointed dB a day of national humilia-
tibii and prayer. . .
Lord CAMPBELL presented a bill entitled "Art act to prevent any un- authorized negotiations or intercourse totiehing public affairs between the subjects of her Majesty and any foreign potentate oP state!' Ite promised a full justification of the measure On the second reading: On the motion for the third reading of the Testamentary Jurisdiction Bill, Lord WYNFOR.D moved that the bill be reatta third time that day six months. This was-negatived by 7r-to- 5 ; and the bill was read a third time, and passed.
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