Debates anti Vrotetbings in Varliament. ENLISTMENT IN THE ARMY. In the

House of Commons, on Monday, the order of the day for going into Committee on the Army Estimates having been read, Captain LAYARD moved this resolution- " That an humble address be presented to her Majesty, praying that she will be graciously pleased to direct inquiry to be made how far the reduction of the period of service in the Army from the present unlimited term would tend to procure a better class of recruits, diminish ;desertion, and thus add to the efficiency of the Service."

The last warrant on the subject of discharges, which was issued in December sat by Mr. Sidney Herbert, the late Secretary at War, was a strong move in the right direction; but it did not go far enough. A limited service would materially benefit the Army and the country, by inducing a better class of persons to enlist; thus naturally causing a diminution of orime, especially of the crime of deser- tidn and effbcting a vast saving of expense to the public. In support of his argu- me4, Captain Layard quoted a number of returns. From one of these it appeared, that the desertions in Canada, Great Britain and Ireland, in the years 1842, 1843, and 1844, amounted to 7,53/. Of these deserters-4;638 had been retaken or had given themselves up, and 2,899Temained unaccounted for. From another return it was shown, that for the five years ending 18445, 17,0201. had been paid from the apprehension, subsistence, and escort of deserters; and that 54,500/ had been paid for the maintenance of men in confinement. Another return stated, that from the 1st of January 1889 to the Slat December 1843, 3,355 men had undergone corporal punishment. Bat the most astounding fact of all was, that during the Same period, 28,190 committals to prison had taken place. Young lads rarely enlisted from a predilection to a military life, but in some fit of passion' domestic discomfort, want of employment, and not unfrequently from the finessed the recruiting ser- geant. Captain Layard stated a number of partictilars showing the suffering which men will undergo to escape from the service. One of the cases was that of the soldier who accused himself- of ham the murderer cf Eliza Grimwood, and who subsequently declared that his only reason for doing so was to afford a chance of getting away from the regiment. Another ease was that which occurred last week in Dumbarton Castle; where a private of good character dreadfully mutila- ted himself in the face in his attempt to commit suicide, in a fit of despondency, brought on. it is believed, by the man's inability to assist his wife and three chil- dren. No one could deny that people in the country detested the idea of their children's entering the Army. In the Cavalry branch of the service, the cases of suicide were found to amount to one suicide nut of twenty deaths, or nearly one annually per 1,000 of the strength I Sir Henry Hardinge had stated before the Committee on Military Punishments, that soldiers often maimed themselves to obtain their discharge, or to become convicts. Captain Layard suggested a plan for obviating the objection that a very con- siderable expense would be incurred by sending home men from foreign places at the expiration of their service. This is his proposal. linlistinent should be allov-Qd for ten years. If the soldier acted worthily during the time, he should receive his pay for six months after his term; and if he /*enlisted within a cer- tain period, say two years, and served eleven years longer, he should be entitled to the old rate of pension, namely 10d. a day, if in a sound state of health, and if reported unfit for service by proper medical authority. If he served on, his pension should be raised. Now, by the saving of pensions to those who did not reenlist, be conceived, so considerable a sum would be gained, that it would cover all the expense of sending men home from foreign stations, and enable an adequate pension to be given to those who remained. Quoting from a return of the number of men who had volunteered to other regiments in India, Captain Layard gave it as his opinion that any apprehension which might be entettamed that his plan would render the Army inefficient was groundless, as the greater number would remain in India. The last warrant had arranged for the granting of discharges on the payment of certain sums varying with the length of service and the con- duct of the man; but its greatest result, a pension of sixpence a day after a ser- vice of twenty-five years, was not enough to induce men of good character to be- come soldiers. Recruiting is now carried on with difficulty. Railways are ab- sorbing that description of men from which the Army was usually recruited; and although the standard of height has been reduced, great difficulty is found in getting the necessary numbers. The truth is, that if England expects soldiers she must give the necessary encouragement. Few persons are so idiotic as to barter their liberty for a shilling a day with the prospect of 6d. a day to retire on after twenty.-five years' service. Lord William Bentinck had stated that all im- provem i ents n the service would facilitate recruiting, and secure a better descrip- tion of men. Among the nations of the earth, Great Britain is the only one that enlists her soldiers for so protracted a period. In France, the period is very short; in India, only three years in time of peace; in America, five years; in Austria, the limit has been reduced from fifteen to eight years. He would propose In divide the term of service into three periods; at the end of each, the soldier to have a right to claim his discharge. If he reinIsted and served the second period, he should be entitled to a pension of 5d a day for life; and at the end of the third period he should be discharged from the Army with a pension of Is. a day. Mr. Windham when Secretary at War, proposed a plan of limited service, which met with great opposition in Parliament, though it ultimately passed.; but subsequently a clause was passed permitting men to enlist for life, and offering a bounty of 161. 16s. instead of 111. lls., the bounty for limited service. The pre- mann of 51. 5s. in favour of unlimited service completely counteracted Mr. Wind- ham's enlightened scheme of limited service. Among other authorities, Captain Layard cited Dr. Jackson, an eminent writer, who had expressed himself strongly in favour of limited service. He says, "Limited service has a tendency to aug- ment the defensive strength of a country, and to improve economical and moral habits among the people: unlimited service, which adds little to the defence of the country, has a tendency to dissipate national sympathies and corrupt moral character; for as it separates the soldier from the mass of the people, it alienates him from the interests of his country, and thereby commits him to the will of a military commander as his lord and master for life." Mr. Fox MAULE, in opposing the motion, wished to be understood as not committing the Government to any line of conduct— He was inclined to think that Captain Layard had given too glowing a de- scription of the advantages of limited service. As to desertions, it would be found that most of them took place in the first or second year of the soldier's life: and lie was inclined to attribute the cause, not to reflections arising from the thought that his liberty had been disposed of for life, but from the sudden emotions that were raised in his breast by the rough discipline to which he is subjected in obtaining a knowledge of his duties. Still, the deserters for the most rt, the moment they regained their sober senses, gave themselves up to their ems. The desertions in Canada took place on the frontier, where the men were seduced by the temp-. tation of holding land in the United States; and the same result would follOw whether the enlistment were for a limited or an unlimited period. With regard to suicides in the Army, Mr. Maule had never heard them attributed to a distaste of unlimited service. Much had been done by the late Government to facilitate the discharge of the really deserving soldier, and to promote education in the Army. Regimental and normal schools had been established, also libraries; places of amusement, too, had been established for the soldier, and every dis- position exhibited to render him when discharged a useful member of society. The average duration of service in foreign parts was fifteen years; and an enlistment for ten years would involve a change of the men if they would not reenlist at the end of that period. Several Members spoke in favour of the address—Sir DR LACY Everts, Mr. BERNAL OSBORNE, (who mentioned that in ten years the number of desertions was 53,764, while the annual number of recruits was about 12,0000 Captain MENZIES, Mr. Huste, Mr. WILLIAM WILLIAMS, and Mr. IL B. CIIRTEIS. Mr. BERNAL advised Captain Layard not to press his motion to a division, but to trust to the effect of the debate.

Colonel SIRTHORP ridiculed the motion; he had heard chimney sweepers described as unhappy men; but, for his own part, he had never seen an unhappy chimney-sweeper; and yet to save chimney-sweepers from their assumed misery, honourable Members had devoted their chimnies to the chance of fire.

In the course of the discussion, Mr. Maw. Ossontru defended Colonel

Whyte from aspersions cast upon him by some of the newspapers, in oonnexion with the flogging case at Hounslow. Colonel Whyte had no- thing to do with the sentence: his responsibility was limited to the carry- ing of it into effect. The assertion, too, that a man had been flogged for merely saying "holloa " to a sergeant, was an outrageous violation of truth. On the suggestion of Mr. Mautx, Captain Laren') agreed to poetpone his motion.

Punme Busatess.

On Monday, Lord Cravn inquired what course the Government intended to take in reference to the bill for preventing the junction of the sees of St. Asaph and Bangor. Lord Joan-RI:mens.0 said, that a bill which had received the consent of the House of Lords, and of nearly all the Bishops, deserved to be very respectfully considered. He could not agree with the bill, however, even supposing that he were prepared to depart from the report of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. He did not conceive that all that was required was to preserve the dioceses of St. Asaph and Bangor: be was called upon to consider the state of the parishes in those dioceses, -and their boundaries, with a view to better episcopal superintendence. The Government were prepared to consider the subject: but time Was re- quired, and should the bill be pressed in the present session he must op- pose it.

Lord Cirvn agreed not to press the bill to a second reading.

On Wednesday, Mr. MacKreneotr withdrew his Cemeteries Bill; Sir GEORGE GREY stating that its provisions were included in the comprehen- sive measure now under the consideration of the Government, which would be introduced early next session.

Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD withdrew his bill for preventing Irish eject- ments; and Mr. POULETT SCROPE his bill for promoting the drainage of waste lands in Ireland: Ministers promising to legislate on both subjects next session.

Next week, Lord Joma RUSSELL is to move that the House commence its forenoon sittings for the greater despatch of business.

PAYMENT OF THE IRISH CONSTABULARY.

On Thursday, Mr. LABOUCHRRE asked leave to bring in a bill to provide for removing the charge of the Constabulary force in Ireland from the counties, for regulating the force, and for enlarging the reserve—

The late Government pledged themselves to the counties of Ireland, when they introduced the Corn Bill, to assist them by laying altogether the charge of the Constabulary of Ireland (which he believed was then divided between the counties of Ireland and the Consolidated Fund) upon the Consolidated Fund. This bill was to redeem that pledge. The Government had also availed themselves of this opportunity of extending the powers which the Government at present possess of employing a police force in Ireland. After consulting with competent au- thorities in Ireland, the Government had thought it right to ask the House to intrust them with the discretionary power of adding to the extent of two hundred men to the reserved force at present at their disposal.

The °Conon DON seconded the motion.

MY. BROTHERTON objected—

It was a very hard case that the Constabulary force of Ireland should be paid out of the Consolidated Fund, whilst the Metropolis and other large towns in this kingdom were obliged to support their own.

MT. LABOUCHERE replied—

A boon of a similar description had been given to the English counties at the same time. The charge of criminal prosecutions and of medical relief for the poor was thrown upon the Consolidated Fund; besides other measures which were given to the English counties, but not to those of Ireland.

After some discussion, the bill was allowed to be brought in.

TOBACCO-DUTIES.

On Tuesday, Dr. BOWRING renewed his effort to bring on a discussion on the Tobacco-duties. After recapitulating the facts and arguments which he brought forward before, to show that the present exorbitant duties operate as a premium to the smuggler, are productive of much immorality and crime, and are exceedingly injurious to the revenue and to the exten- sion of trade, he moved, that the state of the Tobacco-duties requires re- vision, with a view to their immediate reduction.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER admitted the evil; but pleaded financial considerations as a reason why the question should not be enter- tained.

Mr. F. H. BERKELEY was fully impressed with the evils arising from the present duties; but advised Dr. Bowring to yield to circumstances, and withdraw his motion.

Mr. Hums supported the motion ; referring to the great expense of up- holding the present system.

The House was again counted out.

THE SUGAR-DUTIES.

On Monday, the report on the Sugar-duties resolutions having been brought up, Sir ROBERT PEEL asked Lord John Russell, why he did not propose by Imperial legislation to reduce the Imperial duties which existed in the Colonies on the importation of wheat, flour, and several other arti- cles of first necessity.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL was quite willing to reduce the duties referred to; but he preferred leaving the matter in the hands of the respective Colonial Legislatures. The colonists might be of opinion that some differential duty was necessary for the purposes of revenue. He thought it better, therefore, to give them the option of deciding what reductions of duties they would propose, and allow the Queen in Council to Sanction them.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that the object of the Go- vernment was to empower the colonists, if they thought fit, to pass acts repealing those duties which were now enforced upon them. If they did not avail themselves of the privilege, the responsibility rested with themselves.

Mr. Herren and Dr. Bowrtrato approved of the arrangement; thinking that the colonists would prefer legislating for themselves.

The Sugar resolutions were agreed to; the words" Sugar-candy" being inserted in the third resolution.

COLONIAL GOVERNMENT.

In the House of Lords, on Thursday, Lord LYTTELTON put two ques- tions to Earl Grey as the head of the Colonial Department. First, whether the Government intend to introduce any bill this session for the government of New Zealand; and next, whether the bill introduced by the late Government relative to the Australian waste lands is to be taken up by the present Ministers and proceeded with? Earl GREY had pleasure in 'replyingto both questions— Late as the session was, he did not despair of Parliament's being able to legis-

late on both subjects. Notwithstanding the difficulty which surrouediel the task of legislating for New Zealand, he thought it extremely important that souse Live measure measure for that country should be passed in the present year. He had no doubt that the bill relining to Australia had been carefully considered: in its main features he entirely concurred with it; but he wished to alter setae parts and enlarge others. After this explanation, the Australian Waste Lands Bill was read a se- cond time, and ordered to be committed on Tuesday.

In the Commons, Mr. VERNON SMITH asked whether it was the inten- tion of the Government to adhere to Mr. Gladstone's arrangement, under which Mr. Rogers had been appdated Assistant Under-Secretary in the Colonial Department? Mr. Smith understood that Mr. Rogers's salary was to be paid by the objectionable course of reducing the number of clerks in the Colonial Office.

Mr. Hawaii had not had sufficient time to form an opinion br hiruseif; but he knew that Earl Grey considered the appointment of Mr. Rogers to be a necessary and an efficient one.

Lord Joust RUSSELL mentioned that Mr. Stephen, besides his duty as Under-Secretary, had to examine all Colonial enactments and ordinances. For the transaction of such business a person evidently was required, who, besides knowing a good deal of the legislation of the Colonies, should also have a tolerable acquaintance with the principles and practice of law. This was the origin of Mr. Rogers's appointment.

The Earl of LINCOLN stated that the whole arrangement was made without additional charge to the public; and the CHANCELLOR of the Ex- CHEQUER remarked, that a more fit person for the appointment than Mr. Rogers could not have been selected.

Mr. HUME presented a petition from the free colonists of Van Diemen's Land, agreed to at a meeting of the colonists held in December 1845, and signed by 5,400 householders. The petitioners prayed that representative government might be granted to the colony. Among other complaints, they stated that there had been an excess of expenditure over the revenue of 112,0001.

Poon REatovha Bu.L.

On Thursday, Earl GREY moved the second reading of the Poor Re- moval Bill—

No one could doubt that at an early period the whole subject of settlement must be brought under the notice of Parliament, and the whole question-. must be fully gone into. In the mean time, the present bill did not accomplish all that could be wished; but that was no reason why an attempt should not lie made to obviate some of the more crying evils which had existed in the law of settlement.

The Duke of RICHMOND recommended postponement—

The bill had been held out as a boon to the landed interest; but what was it? It amounted to this—that a man after five years' residence in a parish could not be removed, but might go into a neighbouring parish, and in that way leave his native place still liable to his maintenance. The Duke was averse to union set- tlements. If they once admitted union settlements the poor would be ground into dust. Why not have parochial settlements? And when a man had lived five years in a parish, why not declare that he should have a settlement in that parish? It was a little paltry bill. A good deal of remark, rather than discussion, followed.

The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH thought the bill was at variance with the pro- position that it would confer a boon on the agricultural interest. Lord RED- DALE called it a trumpery measure. The Earl of WINCIIIIBEA denied that it was any boon. The Earl of Sr. GERMANS did not regard it as a perfect measure, but looked upon it as a stepping-stone to something better. Lord BEAUMONT thought the bill essentially bad. Lord Cowes thought it might be improved. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE explained its advantages.

In the end, the bill was read a second time, without a division:

RELIGIOUS OPINIONS BILL.

The second reading of the Religious Opinions Bill, which had passed the Lords under the auspices of the late Government, was moved in the House of Commons on Thursday, by Lord JOHN RUSSELL— Its object was to repeal a number of enactments which still remained on the statute book authorizing the infliction of penalties on certain classes of Dissenters. It repealed the acts which prevented Jews from holding land, or at least removed the doubt which existed m the subject. It abrogated those acts which re- quired the attendance of persons at public worship in the Established Church and inflicted penalties for disobedience. The penalties against Popish recusants were done away with. On the question of the Queen's supremacy, Lord John remarked, that these changes would not affect the Queen's claim in the least, be- cause it was amply protected by the common law. The passing of the bill would no doubt produce some confusion as to the oath of supremacy; but he did not think there would be any contradiction. Still, the question of oaths was one which ought to be taken into consideration in another session. By passing the present bill Parliament would get rid of many absurd penalties and much absurd legislation.

A short discussion followed.

Mr. ESTCOURT moved that the bill be read a second time that day three months. He did not like to do away with the law which prohibited the publication of Papal bulls without more time being allowed for consideration. Colonel SIBTFIORP had too much veneration for the acts and laws of his ances- tors, and for the National Church, to sap its foundations by agreeing to the bill. Mr. Escorr intended to make the measure more perfect by moving the insertion of additional clauses. Mr. SPoONER would oppose the bill by all available means. Mr. HENLEY could not for the life of him see what harm the bill could do to the Church of England.

On a division, the second reading of the bill was carried by '79 to 10.

STANDING ORDERS. A Committee, consisting of Mr. Estcourt, Mr. Strutt, Captain Jones, Mr. Gibson Craig, and Mr. Greene, has been appointed for u revision of the Standing Orders relating to Private Bills.

PREVENTION OF DISEASE. On Wednesday, Lord MORPETH obtained leave to introduce a bill to enable the Privy Couucil to make regulations for the pre- vention of contagious disorders, and for the more speedy removal of nuisances.

SITES FOR DWELLINGS FOR THE Poott. On Wednesday, Lord Monne= obtained leave to introduce two bills, the one empowering the Commissioners of Woods and Forests to sell sites for dwellings for the poor out of the hereditary estates of the Crown; and the other conferring the same power as regards the lands vested in the Commissioners under acts for the improvement of the Metro- polis. In explanation, Lord Morpeth stated, that as in the impimprovementsfre- quentlytaking place in the Metropolis the poor were driven from miserable abodes into localities still more miserable, he thought it only right that the Crown and the Commissioners under it should have power to counteract a mischief to which , they were involuntarily parties.

THE CARNIVAL AT MALTA. OR Monday, Mr. HUME brought under notice the circumstances connected with a disturbance which took place in February last during the Carnival at Malta. Had it not been for he injudicious interference

of Governor Stewart with the established habits of the people, by intimating that the Carnival should not be held on Sunday, no disturbance would have taken • place. As it was, the greatest forbearance was exhibited by the disappointed and indignant people, till the police were called upon to interfere. Mr. Hume conclu- ded by submitting a motion to the effect that the interference of the Governor was an infraction of the rights guaranteed to the Maltese by the capitulation under which they became British subjects. Mr. Hawes corrected some of the statements made by Mr. Hume. The masquings on Carnival Sunday were not provided for in law, but left to the discretion of the Governor, and had to be sanc- tioned by him each year. The masquings had given rise to great indecencies, and complaints had been made on the subject both by Protestant and Catholic clergy. Eight days before the Sunday in question, notice was given that the masquings would not be allowed, but that all the other amusements might go on as usual. No complaint was made; and the disturbance which did arise was put down by the police without bloodshed. Some persons were arrested, but the punishments inflicted were very alight. After a good deal of discussion, in which the opinion seemed to prevail that Governor Stewart was chiefly blameable for not intimating with sufficient distinctness to the people that the prohibition of the masquings was recommended by the Catholic clergy, the House divided—For the motion, 12; against. it, 50.

Ms.. SHORE'S CASE. On Tuesday, the Earl of RanNon, as representing the Duke of Somerset, referred to a charge preferred against the Duke by the Bishop of Exeter, on the occasion of presenting a petition from the Reverend James Shore, on the 23d June. The principal charge was, that the Duke had violated a pro- mise which he had made to endow a chapel at Bridgetown. With the view of showing that the charge was unfounded, the Earl of Radnor read a correspondence which had taken place on that and other points in 1832, the year in which the chapel was built, between the Duke's agent and the Bishop of Exeter's secretary. The Bishop of BATH and WELLS submitted to the House a correspondence ex- planatory of the cause of the Bishop of Exeter's absence. It appeared from this correspondence, that the Bishop had raised an action against the proprietor of the Western Times for publishing a speech delivered by Lord Seymour, the eldest son of the Duke of Somerset, containing a libellous attack made upon him at Totness on the 21st July, in reply to the Bishop's charges against his father. Under these circumstances, the Bishop did not consider it proper to attend in his place in the House of Lords.