MR. TITE said he should move that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. The district over which the Me THE IRISH CONSTABULARY. QUESTION. the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether it MR. MAGUIRE said, he begged to ask is the intention of the Government to make, of the Irish Constabulary; and, in case or propose to make, any increase in the pay such an intention has been arrived at, whether he is prepared to say what in crease has been decided upon to be made or proposed. ten years considerable additions had been LORD NAAS said, that during the last made to the pay of the Irish Constabulary Force. There had been also considerable allowances made. It was not, therefore, the intention of Her Majesty's Govern GENERAL THANKSGIVING-INDIA. tropolitan Board of Works had power extended fifteen miles and a half from east to west, and eleven miles from north to south. There was no more reason for exempting Woolwich than for exempting Penge, Sydenham, Hampstead, Highgate, Chelsea, or Fulham. It was said that Woolwich had made a complete system of drainage, but so had the City of London. In both instances the sewage was passed into the Thames, and in both instances it would have to be diverted into the great arterial drains which would have its outfall four miles below Woolwich. The Metropolitan Board of Works, besides having the responsibility of the drainage of the Metro-ment, for the present at all events, to propolis, had other duties cast upon them, in pose any additional pay to the men of the Constabulary Force. making street improvements at a vast outlay, which ought to be provided by the assessment of the whole district. The new street from the Borough to Stamford Street was estimated at £580,000. The street from St. Martin's Lane to King Street £90,000, and another Improvement in the East Part of London would cost £60,000. The Board had borrowed £400,000 of the Bank of England, and had pledged all the Rates including Woolwich for its repayment. It was sought to exempt Woolwich in the same manner as the places mentioned in schedule C of the Act, namely, a district connected with Westminster Abbey, the Charter House, and the Inns of Court, with which it had no analogy, and which in point of fact ought never to have been exempted at all. No such interference ought to be allowed with the operations of a great Commission which was dealing with the main drainage of the Metropolis. 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 BENJAMIN HALL said, that in the Act which constituted the Metropolitan Board of Works the Registrar General's district was deemed to be the Metropolis, and there was no more reason now for exempting Woolwich than for exempting Marylebone. Question"That the word 'now,' stand part of the Question," put and negatived. Words added. Main Question, as amended, put, and agreed to. Bill put off for six months. QUESTION. MR. RICHARDSON said, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether it be the intention of Her Majrsty's Government to recommend to Her Majesty to appoint a day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God, in acknowledgment of His great mercy in giving success to the British Arms in quelling the Revolt in India, and in the re-establishment of British power. LORD STANLEY said that the Government thought it more advisable to defer the consideration of the subject alluded to by the hon. Gentleman until the complete pacification of India was secured. THE NELSON COLUMN. MR. LAURIE said, he wished to ask the He LORD JOHN MANNERS said, it was impossible at present to say when the Lions would be placed upon the site intended for them. Sir Edwin Landseer was engaged at the present moment on the preparation of the models; and he (Lord J. Manners) hoped that at no distant day they would be placed upon their destined site. Sir Edwin Landseer was selected for the execution of those lions with a feeling of confidence that the work could not be entrusted to more skilful hands. In respect to the last question of the hon. Gentleman, of which he had received no notice, he had only to say, that that subject had not as yet engaged the attention of Her Majesty's Government. ATTEMPTED MURDER OF THE REV. MR. NIXON,-QUESTION. SIR HENRY KEATING said, he rose to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether it be true, as stated in several newspapers, that the Law Officers of the Crown in Ireland have in their possession the deposition of a person named Heraghty identifying one of the three persons who attempted to murder the Reverend Mr. Nixon; if so, whether any proceedings have been taken thereupon; and if no proceedings have been taken, what are the reasons for not doing so? MR. WHITESIDE said, that the law officers of the Crown were in possession of the deposition of a man named Heraghty, professing to identify one of the individuals who had attempted to murder the Rev. Mr. Nixon. No proceedings, however, had been taken thereupon, and he would briefly state the reasons why. The rev. Gentle man was fired at by one of three persons disguised as women at about two o'clock in the afternoon, when he was returning from church on Sunday, the 24th of October. Fortunately for him, he hap. pened at the moment to turn his head, which occasioned the ball to pass through his cheek. The nearest magistrate in the neighbourhood, Mr. Cruise, a gentleman deservedly in the confidence of the Government, took immediate steps to discover the guilty party. The Government without delay also sent down Mr. FitzGerald, who, with Mr. Cruise, investigated the whole affair. Then arose the matter which had given occasion for the present question, and a report of which had been prepared by Mr. FitzGerald. From this report it appeared that a person of the name of Heraghty, a travelling sweep, was on the road that day. In the first instance, this man was examined by Mr. Cruise, to whom he declared that he knew nothing whatever of the outrage, nor of the persons who had committed it. The Government immediately sent down an extra body of police, 66 and imposed a tax upon the district as empowered by the Act, which tax was levied at once. Mr. FitzGerald stated on his arrival, "I was informed that Bernard Heraghty could identify one of the parties who made the attack upon the Rev. Mr. Nixon." The police were therefore at once sent in search of him, and he being found and examined upon oath said, "I knew the face of one of those persons immediately I saw it, but I did not tell it for some days after to any one. The one I knew I swear was young Mr. Nixon, the son of the gentleman who was attempted to be assassinated. I am positive of it. My reason for not telling any one was, that I thought it was a pity. I thought when I saw him that he had deserted from the army, as I had heard that he was in the army at Derry." When Heraghty was asked why he had not told this to Mr. Cruise he said, Because I was not then on my oath; and my reason for telling it at all was, because I thought it a pity the poor people should be suffering for the tax that was put upon them." He was then asked whether he had told what he saw to any person, and he said that he had, to the Rev. Mr. M'Fadden. The Rev. Mr. M'Naghton, a priest, and a very respectable person, on being asked if Heraghty had told him of this, said, "He told me in conversation that he was quite sure that one of the three persons he had seen dressed as women was the Rev. Mr. Nixon's son." Mr. M'Fadden added, that he said to Heraghty that when examined by the magistrates he ought to have told the truth to them, upon which he shook his head significantly, and said that would not suit, as he gained his livelihood by the gentry. The rev. Gentleman added, "I then passed on, as I did not attach much weight to what he said, as I knew him to be very near-sighted. I have been informed that he is so near-sighted that he generally does not know people until they speak to him." Immediately after this examination there appeared in certain newspapers in Dublin an attack upon the Government for screening this young man, Mr. Nixon. The stipendiary magistrate, however, was quite on the alert, for he telegraphed to the detective police, and they traced the young man from the day that he was discharged from the army in Londonderry, to the time at which he dined on Sunday, the 24th October, in Dublin, which was 150 miles distant from the scene of the outrage. Coupling this fact with the circumstances that not one of the pea santry could identify Mr. Nixon's son, the firm conviction left upon Mr. FitzGerald's mind was, that Heraghty was completely mistaken in what he had sworn; and it was only owing to his near-sightedness, which encouraged the belief rather that he was mistaken than wilfully guilty of perjury, that proceedings for that offence had not been instituted against him. THE IONIAN ISLANDS. QUESTION. SALE OF LIQUOR (SCOTLAND.) QUESTION. VISCOUNT MELGUND said, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is the intention of the Government to move for a Select Committee upon the laws concerning the sale and consumption of excisable liquors in Scotland. SIR ANDREW AGNEW said, he would suggest that a Royal Commission should be appointed to investigate the subject. MR. WALPOLE said, that there were very conflicting opinions in Scotland as to the mode in which any inquiry should be MR. HEADLAM said, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government will under-instituted into the operation of the Forbes take that before any alteration is made in Mackenzie Act. He thought that some the constitution of the Ionian Islands this inquiry was imperatively required for the House shall have an opportunity of satisfaction of the contending parties, for expressing an opinion on the proposed he was sure that until it was instituted no change. satisfactory agreement upon the question. could be arrived at. Now, as to the best mode of such an inquiry there was some difficulty. If a Select Committee were appointed all the parties concerned should be brought from Scotland to give evidence, and he had his doubts whether even then they could come to any satisfactory result, The inclination of his mind was that in order to avoid delay and expense it would be better to appoint a Royal Commission of proceeding would, he believed, give sato inquire into the subject. Such a mode tisfaction to all parties. SIR EDWARD BULWER LYTTON said, that the official papers relating to the subject would be soon placed upon the Table of the House, and ample opportunity would be afforded for discussing the question before any change in the Constitution of the Ionian Islands could take place. SMITHFIELD.-QUESTION. MR. T. DUNCOMBE said, he wished to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether anything decisive has been determined upon in reference to the vacant site of the late Smithfield Market; if not, when it is likely that a decision will be arrived at by Her Majesty's Govern ment. MR. WALPOLE said, from the corres pondence that had taken place in reference to this subject, it appeared that according to the opinions of the Law Officers of the Crown, both of the present and the late Government, there was a great doubt as to whether the site of the late Smithfield Market reverted to the Crown, instead of being any longer the property of the City. A very able Report had been drawn up in reference to the sanitary state uses which might be made of the site, and in reference to the mode in which that part of the metropolis might be treated. That Report was sent to the City at the end of last year, and a correspondence took place in relation to it. The whole of that Report, and the matter referred to in it, was referred to the Market Improvement Committee. FEES TO MAGISTRATES' CLERKS. MR. ADAMS said, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any Report has yet been received from the Commission of Inquiry on the subject to Fees to Magistrates' Clerks ? MR. WALPOLE said, that he had only received a partial Report at present from the Commission of Inquiry, and he thought it unadvisable to act until he received full information upon the subject. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. SIR JOHN PAKINGTON said, he had to beg the indulgence of the House as he wished to make an appeal to the hon. Member for Montrose (Mr. Baxter), the hon. Member for Berwick (Mr. Stapleton), and to his noble and gallant Friend the Member for Sandwich (Lord C. Paget). Those hon. Members must be aware that he had Both sides given notice of his intention to make a convenience of the House as well as that statement on Friday next as to the views of the Government, that the hon. Member and intentions of the Government in regard for Montrose and the hon. Member for Berto the naval forces of the country. He wick should accede to the request of my saw, however, Notices given for that day right hon. Friend the First Lord of the by the hon. Members he had alluded to Admiralty. It is of great importance, upon the Motion for going into Committee after all that has been said on the subject, of Supply. Now the duty he proposed that I should bring forward on Monday discharging, the nature of which he had next the Motion of which I have given given notice of, was of an arduous and diffi- notice for that evening; but if those cult character; but it would be rendered Motions of the two hon. Members are to much more difficult and arduous if debates be interposed between the business which should arise upon the Motions of the hon. precedes them and that which my right Members upon going into Committee of hon. Friend has to bring before the House Supply. He feared under such circum--the Navy Estimates certainly it will stances, it would be hardly possible for not be in my power to do so. him to undertake the duty he proposed. of the House seem to think it desirable Hon. Members had, no doubt, a full right that there should not be any postponement to bring on such questions, if they pleased, of the statement of my right hon. Friend; and he only appealed to their courtesy in and if he be prevented from making it on asking them to waive their right on the Friday evening, I shall be perfectly ready evening in question, when they found that to allow him to avail himself of Monday, the details of one of the greatest interests and I shall ask some hon. Gentleman to be of the country were to be submitted to the kind enough to give me some evening not House. devoted to public business. However, Sir, it will not be my fault if my Motion does not come on at the time I named for it. With respect to what has fallen from the hon. Member for Montrose, I must repeat what I have stated in answer to questions put by hon. Gentlemen that I think it would be more convenient if the Government were allowed to state their intentions on the subject of the amendment of the laws relating to the representation of the people in Parliament when introducing the measure which they intend to bring forward on the subject. Following the course always taken by our predecessors I shall make a statement on that occasion; and I think I shall then have an opportunity of showing the hon. Member for Montrose (Mr. Baxter) that it is more advantageous to the public interest that the usual course should be adhered to in this case also. With regard to the Motion of the hon. Member for Berwick (Mr. Stapleton), I mentioned to him on a former occasion that the Notices, as at present fixed, were so scanty that he would no doubt have an opportunity of bringing his forward; but I did not mean to intimate to him then that he should seek an opportunity of taking a Government night. I do, therefore, hope that the two hon. Members to whom my right hon. Friend has appealed the hon. Member for Montrose and the hon. Member for Berwick may not feel it necessary, in pursuance of their public duty, to interfere with the arrangements MR. BAXTER said, it was generally understood that a Reform Bill should be introduced with respect to Scotland. The right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Monday would introduce his Reform Bill for England. If the right hon. Gentleman would then make a general statement with respect to the whole country, he (Mr. Baxter) would withdraw his notice for Friday night, but if the right hon. Gentleman meant to confine himself to England and Wales, he did not see his way at present and without further consideration to accede to the request of the First Lord of the Admiralty. MR. STAPLETON said, that with regard to the Notice he had given, he thought it of paramount importance that there should be some discussion on the Danubian Principalities before the conference assembled. The other night when the right hon. Gentleman (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) appealed to him (Mr. Stapleton) to forbear taking advantage of the notice, he yielded, but adopting the suggestion of the noble Lord the Member for the City of London (Lord J. Russell), he then gave a fresh notice that he would bring forward the subject at the proper time on going into Committee of Supply. If he were now to give way, he might not have an opportunity of doing it at all before the conference assembled. THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: Sir, I think it would be for the which he has made for introducing the Navy Estimates on Friday night. That will enable me to make my statement on Monday night; and if I be afforded that opportunity, I trust I shall be able to convince the hon. Member for Montrose that the course I propose is the most convenient. MR. MONCKTON MILNES said, he had a Motion for Friday night. As it referred to appointments made to offices in the East he was anxious to have it brought on before the persons to whom it referred had been put to any inconvenience in preparing for their journey. He had no objection, however, to give up Friday night, but he hoped that the gentlemen would not be put to the inconvenience of starting for their posts pending events which might occur in that House, and which might make a countermand necessary. MR. KNATCHBULL - HUGESSEN said, that the Motion of his noble colleague (Lord C. Paget) was not in the same category as the Notices of those hon. Gentlemen who had been appealed to. It related to the Navy, and might therefore be very appropriately discussed on night on which the Navy Estimates were to be brought forward. the SIR JOHN PAKINGTON said, the notice of the noble Lord did not relate to the Navy, but to the form of the Estimates, and might be brought forward upon a subsequent occasion. He said he was obliged to the hon. Member for Pontefract (Mr. M. Milnes) for his courtesy, and must renew his appeal to the other two hon. Gentle men. VISCOUNT PALMERSTON said, he considered it justifiable on the part of the Government to ask hon. Gentlemen to postpone Motions which might lead to a long discussion, and throw back the statement which the right hon. Baronet, the First Lord of the Admiralty had to make, so as to render it impossible to him to accomplish what he had to say within the limits of the hours during which that House ordinarily sat; but he (Viscount Palmerston) would beg to remind the Government that statements of much importance, and statements concerning Estimates, had been made at an hour of the night later than that at which they were now sitting. It was therefore rather too much for the Government to protest against any one bringing forward any subject on the Motion for going into Supply on the ground that it would prevent them from going into a statement that same night. He could only VOL. CLII. [THIRD SERIES.] say that it was not the principle upon which Gentlemen opposite acted when he was in office. During that time nothing was more frequent or common than interpositions and debates on other matters to prevent Mr. Speaker from leaving the Chair that the House might go into Supply. If this statement of the right hon. Baronet was so pressing he had had nearly three weeks' opportunity of bringing it forward. He might have made it that very evening, for there was no pressing business to come before them but a statement by the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which might have been made last Friday. Therefore, he did not think the Government ought to go so far as to put back all other business for a statement which might be given at nine o'clock or even at ten o'clock on Friday night. Orders of the Day read, and postponed till after the Notice of Motion relative to Church Rates. CHURCH RATES. LEAVE. MR. WALPOLE rose to call the atten tion of the House to certain Papers relative to Church Rates which have been laid upon the Table of the House by Her Majesty's command, and to submit a measure to the House on that subject: and said-Sir, I have to bring forward a question in respect of which a long agitation in the public mind necessarily causes me to feel much anxiety and hesitation. I feel that the duty I have to perform on the present occa. sion is no ordinary one; for on the part of Her Majesty's Government I have to undertake what at all times would have been a difficult task, but what after all the controversy that has arisen upon the subject, will, unless I receive the forbearance and indulgence of the House, be, I must say, almost an impossibility. I am about to propose, on the part of the Government, what I believe will be a just, a moderate and a reasonable settlement of a question which has baffled hitherto, and which, except for that assistance which, I shall freely acknowledge, we have received from others, I believe might baffle still the most earnest efforts of statesmen and of Parliament. But with that assistance I do not despair that some settlement may be come to which at the same time will prove satisfactory to Churchmen and also to Dissenters. The House will remember that this question X |
