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voting should be allowed in Parliamentary nery that practically, if they passed it into as in parochial contests. It was not wise a law, it could not provide a remedy in to disturb so soon the legislation of last time to meet an occasion which would proSession. bably occur in the present Session. By MR. KNIGHTLEY seconded the Amend- the Reform Bill before the House, the ment.

Amendment proposed to leave out the word "now" and at the end of the Question to add the words " upon this day six months."

SIR JOHN PAKINGTON said, he regarded the main provisions of the Bill without any decided feeling one way or the other. He was not prepared to view the question with any of the warmth of the hon. and learned Member for Newcastle (Mr. Headlam), nor had he so lively a sense of the influence of cabs and carriages upon an election contest as the hon. and learned Member for Marylebone (Mr. E. James). Apart altogether from the merits of the Bill itself he could not help thinking that this was a most inconvenient time for bringing it forward. When the clause to which so much reference had been made was adopted last year it was, he believed, upon the Motion of the hon. and learned Member for the Tower Hamlets and what was the principle upon which it was acquiesced in? The necessity of settling the law one way or the other. The state of the law was so uncertain, such contrary decisions had been given, and such conflicts had arisen from that unhappy state of things, that it was deemed advisable to take the course proposed last Session, though in some respects he considered it not a very desirable course to introduce this novelty into their legislation. If he remembered rightly, the noble Lord the Member for London gave his support to the clause on the ground that it was unwise to leave the Question in an unsettled and undecided state. It appeared now that the noble Lord intended to support the second reading of this Bill on the ground that the measure contained a provision for the multiplication of a number of polling places, and it would, therefore, remedy the inconvenience to meet which the clause of last year was passed. Now, he thought that the opponents of the present measure had a right claim to vote of the noble Lord against the Bill, inasmuch as the effect of this measure passing would be practically to disfranchise a large number of the electors. The last clause of the hon. and learned Gentieman's Bill, in providing for additional polling places, had called to his aid such a complicated system of machi

Government proposed to deal with the Question of additional polling places; he therefore thought, as a matter of fairness, the clause of last Session ought not to be repealed until additional polling places had first been provided for. Inasmuch as the Reform Bill proposed to deal with that question he would oppose the second reading of the present measure.

MR. AYRTON said, he was desirous to correct an error into which the right hon. Gentleman had fallen. The Government in the last Session proposed the following clause :

"It shall be lawful for any person to pay the actual travelling expenses bona fide incurred in bringing any voter to the poll."

Now, that was a proposition which had been assented to by a large majority of the House, in substance in a former Parlia ment. So far from accepting the proposed words he entered a negative against them. He proposed a clause to the effect that it should not be lawful for any person to pay the travelling expenses of a voter, because such a principle would open the door to bribery; but he provided that any person might be allowed a conveyance to go to the poll. Then came the proposition that such conveyance might be provided by the can. didate or his agent. Those latter words were tacked on the previous portion of the The law of clause to which he referred. last Session was hurriedly pressed on them. He should support the right of his hon. and learned Friend to advance his measure into Committee.

"That the word 'now' Question put, stand part of the Question." The House divided:-Ayes, 172; Noes, 153: Majority, 19.

Main Question put, and agreed to.
Bill read 2°.

House adjourned at a quarter
before Six o'clock.

HOUSE OF LORDS,

Thursday, March 3, 1859.

MINUTES.] PUBLIC BILLS.-1a Inclosure; Medical Act (1858) Amendment.

HONG KONG.

CASE OF WILLIAM TARRANT, PUBLISHER OF THE FRIEND OF CHINA.'

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PETITIONS.

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He would not pronounce

and evidence. an opinion on the portion of the question to which the noble Earl referred while the whole case was under consideration. The simple facts were that Mr. Chisholm EARL GREY presented petitions from Anstey, the Attorney General, in a speech Inhabitants of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and made by him in the Legislative Council, Tynemouth, praying that an Inquiry may made charges against another public officer be made relative to the Trial at Hong most deeply affecting his character and Kong of William Tarrant, Publisher of that of his wife, accusing them of having the Hong Kong newspaper, called The taken bribes from the natives. On the Friend of China. The facts alleged other hand a statement was made conseemed to be that an officer of the Go- taining nineteen counter-charges; which vernment having been accused in a news- were submitted first to the Board of Mapaper, called The Friend of China, of agistrates and then to a commission, and very serious offence, namely, that of compending these inquiries, the Attorney plicity with certain Chinese pirates; and General was suspended. Sir John Bowanother public officer of having screened ring was absent from the colony; but inand sheltered him from punishment, by structions had been given to the Acting having destroyed certain papers which Governor to make every inquiry into the contained evidence of the transaction. The matter. The prosecution for libel was parties accused indicted the newspaper for simply a fraction of a greater case, which libel, and at the trial, the jury, without was under the consideration of the Colonial hearing evidence to support the justifica- Office, and he could not express any opinion tion pleaded by the defendant, found a upon a part while the whole remained unverdict for him, thus showing their opinion decided. that the account in the newspaper was correct. It would seem most impossible that such a case could occur as was involved in the conduct of the officers of the Government in question, but there was the fact of the trial, and the verdict in favour of the newspaper. This matter had caused some excitement in the north, and public meetings had been held at Newcastle and Tynemouth, at which the petitions he had presented, praying for inquiry, were agreed to. He thought it desirable that the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies should, if he could, offer some explanation.

EARL GREY said, that these charges made against public officers of a colony and supported by the verdict of a jury, were too serious to be answered by saying that this matter formed part of a larger inquiry. Unless there was clear ground for believing that the jury came to an erroneous conclusion, no public officer ought to be allowed for a day to exercise the office of Colonial Secretary, and it was not satisfactory that this case should be postponed until a larger part of the question was inquired into.

THE EARL OF CARNARVON had said, that this case was a branch of an inquiry which had been referred to the Home Government. The acting Governor of Hong Kong had been directed to make an inquiry, and receive an explanation on the subject.

EDUCATION IN INDIA.
MOTION POSTPONED.

THE EARL OF CARNARVON was understood to say that the facts to which the noble Earl had alluded, so far as the trial was concerned, were correct. The case which the noble Earl had mentioned had excited very great local feeling; but the facts formed part of a much larger question, connected with the suspension from office of the Attorney General of Hong Kong, and which was under the consideration of the Colonial Office. The papers relating to the inquiry already received were most To call the attention of the House to a letter voluminous; he had the curiosity the other from the Earl of Ellenborough, President of the day to have them weighed, and he found that Board of Control, to the Chairman and Deputy they amounted to eleven pounds of closely Chairman of the East India Company, dated 28th printed paper. The whole matter was be- April, 1858; and, To ask Her Majesty's Governfore the Colonial Office, but its settlement ment, Whether, in pursuance of that letter, any Instructions have been issued to the Government was delayed by the continued flow of comof India recalling or altering the Instructions conmunications on the subject from the co-veyed in a Despatch from the Court of Directors lony, every mail bringing fresh papers of the East India Company to the Governor

THE DUKE OF ARGYLL, who had a Notice on the paper

General of India in Council, dated 19th of July, | were fully in possession of the views of the 1854, on Education in India "postponed his Motion sine die.

THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGH said, that he thought all of their Lordships would agree with him that this subject was one of extreme delicacy. He felt it was one the discussion of which would hardly be of any advantage to the cause of Education in India, and he urged most earnestly upon the noble Duke to consider whether it would not be safer and better to leave the

subject in the hands of Her Majesty's Government. The noble Duke and the whole country were in possession of the principles by which her Majesty's Government were to be guided in the matter, because they had been clearly laid down in Her Majesty's Proclamation; therefore, he hoped that the noble Duke would not think it necessary to bring on his Motion

at all.

THE DUKE OF ARGYLL said, that the subject upon which his notice of Motion was founded was the letter of the noble Earl to the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the East India Company, dated April 28th, 1858. Though that letter had not formed the topic of discussion in their Lordships' House, yet in India it had attracted considerable attention, and had been the cause of considerable alarm. He fully agreed with the noble Earl as to the delicacy of the question, but did not think that the character of the discussion in their Lordships' House would be likely to affect the question injuriously.

THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGH said,

Indian Government in relation to it.

House adjourned at half-past Five o'clock, till to-morrow, half

past Ten o'clock.

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REGISTERS OF TITLES (SCOTLAND).
QUESTION.

MR. CAIRD said, he would beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether he intends to bring forward a measure for improving the Registers of Titles to Land, and whether he proposes to diminish the cost of Registration and Search in Scotland.

THE LORD ADVOCATE said, a Bill was in preparation for improving the Registers of Titles to Land in Scotland, but he could not say upon what day he should be able to bring it forward. The attention of Her Majesty's Government had also been directed to the diminution of the costs of Registration and Search in Scotland; but, in consequence of a measure that was passed last year, they had not yet been able to ascertain to what extent those costs should be diminished.

that it was impossible for him to prevent CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS (SCOTLAND) the publication of that despatch as it formed a necessary addition to the papers moved for in the House of Commons.

THE EARL OF DERBY begged to state, that no action had taken place upon the letter addressed to the Chairman and Deputy Chairman by his noble Friend, but the attention of the Government had been turned to this important question. The reports from India had been carefully examined, but they did not furnish sufficient information, and the Secretary of State for India had called for a full and detailed report from the home Government of India upon the working of the education scheme | since its introduction in 1855, what effect it had produced upon the Native mind, and what modifications were required. It was very desirable that any discussion should be avoided on a subject so critical and so delicate at least, until their Lordships

QUESTION.

MR. MACKIE said, he wished to ask the Lord Advocate whether, under the Act 10 & 11 Vict. c. 47, relating to the Service of Heirs, or under any other Statute, or by any practice of the Scottish Courts, the Sheriff of Chancery, where any alteration or amendment in the course of proceedings is necessary, has power to attach a condition of Money Payments to Charitable Institutions before pronouncing Decree of Service ?

THE LORD ADVOCATE said, the Question was of a somewhat peculiar character. He had given it the fullest consideration in his power, and had every anxiety to give an answer; but, as it was a question of law, he thought he should best perform his duty by declining to express any opinion upon it.

THE HIGHWAYS BILL.-QUESTION. MR. H. A. BRUCE said, he would beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether, as South Wales is excluded from the operation of the Highways Bill now before the House, the Government intend to introduce a Bill to amend the South Wales Highways Act? MR. HARDY said, that at present it was not his intention to introduce any other Bill on the subject of Highways, as his hands were sufficiently full with that which he had before the House. At the same time, if the House arrived at the conclusion that a similar measure would be beneficial to South Wales, he would give every facility to any hon. Gentleman who might think proper to bring in a Highways Bill for that part of the empire. He would take that opportunity of observing that an alteration which he had made in the English Highways Bill would, he thought, meet the views of some hon. Gentlemen who had given notice of Amendments; he had struck out of the Bill that part which related to the Poor Law Board.

COUNTY VOTERS.-QUESTION.

MR. DODSON said, he would beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the data upon which is founded the Government Estimate that the extension of the right of Suffrage to £10 Occupiers will increase the number of County Voters in England and Wales by not less than 200,000?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: Sir, the Government Estimate of the amount of increase of the County Voters by the Bill which the House gave me leave to introduce the other night is mainly formed on six documents which are already on the table of the House, and in the pos session of hon. Members. Those six documents are-1. The Return of the Rating of Tenements, No. 59, headed "Poor Law Board, February, 1851." 2. The Return of the Rating of Tenements, No. 630, moved for by Mr. Poulett Scrope, and ordered to be printed August, 1849. 3. Return moved for by Mr. Locke King, in the second Session of 1857, No. 4, headed Electors." 4. The Return now in the course of being issued by the Poor Law Board, headed Population of Parishes," also moved for by Mr. Locke King, and ordered to be printed the 10th

66

of February, 1858. 5. The Poor Law Returns ordered to be printed in February, 1852, on the Motion of Mr. Poulett Scrope; and 6, The Return headed "Ratepayers, moved for by Mr. Newdegate, and ordered to be printed on the 12th of August, 1854. These six documents were submitted to the labour of actuaries, who were assisted in obtaining local information generally throughout the country; but it is not in my power to put in form any document of the precise data on which our opinion is formed. The basis of the calculation was founded on the document I have just named.

TIE STADE DUES-QUESTION. MR. J. L. RICARDO said, he rose to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at what date the notice for the termination of the Treaty of the 22nd day of July, 1844, in reference to Stade Dues, between the United Kingdom and Hanover, according to the Eighth Article of that Treaty, was given to the Hanoverian Government. Whether that notice was withdrawn or suspended, if so, whether it has been renewed, and at what date the said Treaty will actually terminate under the notice announced to the House as having been given by the Under-Secretary of State.

MR. SEYMOUR FITZGERALD in reply said, that the notice for the termination of the Treaty between this country and Hanover regulating the Stade Dues was provisionally and formally communicated to the Hanoverian Government, in accordance with the Eighth Article of the Treaty on the 14th of August last. Shortly afterwards, when his noble Friend at the head of the Foreign Office was in attendance on Her Majesty at Hanover, he was urged by Count Platen to withdraw the notice, but declined doing so. Lord Malmesbury, however, intimated that if his Excellency would impart to him the reasons why he wished the notice to be withdrawn they should be carefully considered, and if they should be deemed satisfactory the notice might be withdrawn. In consequence of that, and of some communications which took place between our Envoy at Hanover and Count Platen, it was afterwards represented to Her Majesty's Government that Hanover considered the notice withdrawn or suspended; but to that view the British Government refused to accede, and in the last communication which had passed between the two Governments it was stated by Lord Malmesbury

that any change in the date of the notice could only be made by official negotiations, and that the British Government could not do otherwise than maintain that the notice of the 14th of August was in full force and effect. Her Majesty's Government had not thought it politic to withdraw that notice, and it had never been either withdrawn or suspended, and the Treaty would therefore expire on the 14th of August in the present year.

SUPERANNUATION ALLOWANCES.

QUESTION.

SIR HENRY WILLOUGHBY said, he would beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can inform the House, or place a document on the Table to show what number of Persons in the Civil Service, whether their remuneration be conputed by day pay, weekly wages, or annual salary, will be entitled to superanuation allowance, and at what amount of charge to the public, under Clause 2 of the Superannuation Bill?

SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE said, he thought it almost impossible to give the Return asked for by the hon. Baronet, for it would not only require a great deal of time, but the consideration of questions to be settled hereafter. On going into Committe on the Bill he would endeavour to give the House some general information as to the number of persons likely to come under its provisions.

MR. RICH said, he thought it would be convenient if the hon. Baronet, the Secretary to the Treasury, would undertake not to move the Committee after ten o'clock the following night.

SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE intimated his intention not to proceed with the Bill after that hour.

THE CLOCK TOWER-QUESTION. MR. HANKEY said he wished to ask the Chief Commissioner of Works whether the Bells are now all fixed in the Clock Tower; whether the Works of the Clock have also been placed there; when the Clock will be in working order; and the total expense of the Clock ?

LORD JOHN MANNERS said, he would read the House two letters which he had received on the subject. The first was from Sir Charles Barry, dated Old Palace Yard, March 2.

In reply to your letter of this day's date, I have to inform you that the bells of the great clock

at the New Palace, at Westminster, were hoisted as soon as they were approved by the referees aphave been fixed more than three months. With pointed to judge of their tone and quality, and respect to the clock, I am unable to say what progress has been made with it, or when it may be completed; but Mr. E. B. Denison, under whose sole superintendence the manufacture and supply of it is placed, will, doubtless, be able to afford the information which the First Commisioner of Her Majesty's Works requires respecting it. I am, &c.

CHARLES BARRY.

Mr. Denison in his letter said.

"The answer to the first part of the question you have sent me is that the bells have been fixed in the Clock Tower; but they are now let down a little, to enable some pieces to be put into the frame, of the nature of diagonal braces to strengthen it against the shake caused by the blow of the great hammer. The clock is not fixed because the clock room will not be ready for it until the weight shaft is properly covered over, and the pendulumroom constructed in it, and an enclosed passage clock-room to the west dial works. made through the air-shaft to give access from the This must also be made of iron, because the air-shaft is, in fact, a chimney: and it must be made carefully, so as to be air-tight, or else the fumes of the ventilating fire will come into the clock-room. assured that the clock room will be ready for the clock in a week, and that the bell frame will be finished very soon, and therefore I see no reason why the clock should not drive the hands and be striking in a few months." He would endeavour to ascertain whether he could give the further information asked for by the hon. Member.

THE NEW FOREIGN OFFICE. QUESTION.

I am

MR. CONINGHAM said, he wished to ask the First Commissioner of Works when he intends to exhibit the Designs for the new Foreign Office?

LORD JOHN MANNERS replied, that as soon as he received the working drawings and the price at which the contractors had engaged to complete the proposed Foreign Office he would select them for exhibition; and he could assure the hon. Member that there would be no proposal for a Vote until the designs had been submitted to the inspection of the House.

PRISONS AND WORKHOUSES (IRELAND).

QUESTION.

MR. MACARTNEY said, he would beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government in preparing the Estimates to bring forward Votes for the maintenance

of Convicts and Convicted Misdemeanants confined in County Jails after sentence, the expenses of Witnesses at Assizes and

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