On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Atoust 1^ 1S&5*] Tg.B LEADER. ^g9
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Hm&Ial Parliament. Tmc'tfouse Of Commons...
'Upon ;* idiri « o « j the amendaieat was negatived by a 9 to I 5 , and the House -went into committee upon the bill .
LIMITED LIABILITY BILL . In the House of LobcIb , © n Tuesday , Xord Stanley X ) F JVuBdanunr moved tbe suspension of the order of the Bouse with respect to . measures broug ht u p from the ( . Lower House , in order that the Limited Lia-Inlity Bill might be proceeded with . — TJiis motion nwus opposed by Lord Riiirtssuale , < m the ground , that no ease of urgency Uatd beew made out . Lord JjYTTXMX *! , Lord Git ev , and Lord St . Leonard's , ¦ also stro » gly objected to proceeding with the bill , - which they conceived would have a . pernicious effect . —Lord Granvillk , Lord Cx . AKniCAiti > E , and the Lord Cimsckilou replied , and th e mo tion w a s affirmed . by 38 to 14 . —After some further -discussion , ¦ th e < bill was read a second time . .
The Turkish Loan Bii . i ., and the Downingstreet I ' dunc Offices Extension Bill , were read a third time and passed .
REVISION OF TETE BIBLE . In the House of Commons , at the morning sitting , Mr . Hcvwood gave notice that next session he would address the Crown , pray ing that her Majesty will be p leased to appoint a gold mission to inquire into the state of the Bibl e * and to prepare a p lan for the further revision of the . English translation .
KXCHEQUEU BILLS ( 7 , 000 , 000 / . ) HILL . Onthe order for the third reading of this bill , Sir Henhy WiLLocGiinv said he was not satisfied with the absolute necessity of this addition to the unfunded debt , which was now hig h e r than d u ring any period of the hist war , with the exception of the years from 1812 to 1820 , when it was 5 G , 0 OO , O 00 £ In the last two years the unfunded debt lias been nearly doubled . In 1853 , it stood at 17 , 000 , 000 / . ; in 1854 , " at 23 , 000 , 000 / . ; and at the end of the present financi a l year it would be 30 , 000 , 000 / . The income of the country is in fact forestalled for several years . There was no absolute necessity for this 7 , Oo 6 , Oflo / .
The House had voted in one shape or another 91 , 500 , 000 / . He did not find the expenditure to be more in the aggregate than 8 $ , 500 , 000 / . The Chancellor of the Exchequer took a margin of 4 , 440 , 000 / . in his Budget of April , and deducting 200 , 000 / . from this on account of the withdrawal of the proposal with regard to bankers' cheques , it was reduced to 4 , 250 , ooo / . This taken from 6 , 135 , 000 / ., th e amount of the second estimate , left a surplus of 1 , 970 , 000 / . The margin on the Budget being calculated xip to the latter end of July , the most expensive portion of the financial year , bethought it was too much for the Government to call upon the House for an addition of 7 , 0 « O , o < H »/ . to tin * unfunded debt .
The Chancellor of the Kxchrqiteic observed that the unfunded debt , even if increased to the whole extent proposed , would not equal the amount which was reached during and since the late war , when there were also Government bills in circulation , and the rate of interest upon Kxdicquer-bills was greater than at present . He really was at a loss to understand what difference there was between the hon . baronet ' s calculations and those which he ( the Chancellor of the Exchequer ) had submitted to the House . He then repeated the details which he had t ? iven on the subject in the Committee of Waj ' s and M eans , with a view to showing that he had not made any error in his calculations . —The bill was then read a third time and passed . PROSPECTS OV THE WAK . — STATi : OF ITALY .
On the order for the third reading of the Consolidated . Eund ( Appropriation ) Bill , Lord John Kvs-8 ELL called attention to the prospects of the war . Without desiring cither to aggravate or diminish the responsibilities of Ministers , lie thought it his duty to refer to certain facts . It is evident that the enemy does not intend to meet us in naval combat ; and , as regards any offensive operations in the North , though the spirit of our men is not to be doubted , the season for active operations is beginning , to wane . The position of the Turks in Asia is perilous ; and a large Kus . siun army has been released from Poland . With respect to terms of peaoe , the Turkish ambanaador at Vienna—a man of lar ^ e knowledge and experience —had been satisfied with the Austrian propositions . If at any future period
termb of peace should be acceihd to by Turkey , which . France and Eng land , for the suUe of their military honour , hIkmiM refuse , we should then have to subsidise Turkey in order to sieuro her assistance . The Kmperor of the French -had been , not onl y so faithful , but , ho prudent an . I just an a"y . that ho was disposed to pay great consideration to any opinions of his as to negotiations Z l « co ; yet , if s « fe and honourable terms woro Ottered , he hoped the war would not . he . continued . But we have another faithful ally iii the person of the King of Sardinia ; and this constitutional monarch is naturally desirous for tho extoiisjoii of freedom in Italy . The condition of t lungs in ino peninsula , however , in thin - that the States ot jn o Church are partly in tho occupation of Austrian iroopa , wiiilo the capital , Koine , ia occupied by those
of France . The consequence is that the Pope ceases to -be an independent -sovereign , and the bala n ce of European power is disturbed . If these troops were withdrawn , th ere w o u ld probabl y be a revolutionary government ; but would it not be possible for England , in concert with France iand Austria , to devise some -system for the . Papal States consonant with the wishe s of th e people and th e e lements of justice ? lie could not but think that the Kmperor of France would be happy to concert with us for such . an object .
Mr . Wilkikson , in -a brief speech , admitted itnat the sympathies of the English peop le are in . favour of the Italians , Poles , and Hun garians , and he thought the French occupation of-Rome was . to be regretted ; but at the same time he must say that the p r ese n t was not the ri g ht p e riod f o r urgi n g su c h considerations upon the Government . Lord Palmebstox , in replying 'to Lord John R ussell , comme n ced by r e f e rri n g t o th e degr ee of responsibility of which the Government had been re minded , and observed : —
u It must be , indeed , a grave reason which could induce a man who has been party to the "wax— who has conducted the war— "who has concurred in the reasons for commencing the war—> who has been a party to call « pon the country to make a-great sacrifice—who has , up to a very recent period , concurred in all measures which were proposed—it should , indeed , be a grave reason which could induce such a man utterly to change his op inions — ( cheer *) —to declare that the war to which he was a party is unnecessary and unjust , and to state before the country all the imaginary disasters with which his fancy could furnish bis speech , and to be the champ ion of the enemy against whom Iiis country is engaged . I am not such a man . M y ri gbt honourable friend * , my colleagues in the Government , are not men ot that stamp . "
I mmediatel y after this pointed allusion , Lord Palmerston observed that nothing which he had said in any degre e applied to " his noble friend . He th e n proceeded to remark that the conditions of peace must be modified by the results of the war ; that he had no reason to suppose the Turkish Government differed from France and Eng land i n respect to th e Austrian proposals , but that , if th e y did , the objects of the war are wider than any merely Turkish considerations . The protection of Turkey is the means to an end . Behind that protection is the greater question of repressing the ambition of Russia , and saving freedom from extinction . France
and England , therefore , have a still greater interest in the matter than Turkey , to whom should not be left the sole decision of the conditions of peace . With respect to Italy , the French occupation of Rome had had the effect of restoring tranquillity , and the army there had been recentl y gr e atl y reduced . Tlie Austriau occupation of Tuscany had altogether ceased , and he was able to deny the assertion that the Austrian army in Lombardy Jiad lately been augmented . lie could not say whether Austria would ever take the field with us ; but he was sure she would not take it against us . The position of so great a people as the Italians could not but give the
greatest pain ; and , if any opportunity should arise , the Government of England , and he believed that of France , would give their best attention to the amelioration of the peninsula , and to the furtherance of those benevolent objects to which Lord John Russell had referred . After a few observations from Mr . Hevlf . v , who could not see what good could arise from this discussion , the bill wa $ read a third time ami passed . THE 1 IOSFITALS IN * THE EAST .
Mr . Stafford moved for copies of reports relative to the English military and naval hospitals at Smyrna , Scutari , Kululee , The r apin , die . ; of any reports made by Sir . John M'Neill or other commissioners , in reference to tho sanitary condition of the camp in the Crimea ; and generally of any official communications on the health of tho troops and sailors . With respect to the alleged neglect of the wounded nfter the ISth of . lune , he ha I heard that Dr . Mall desired an inquiry ; and he then proeeoded to read extracts from the evidence taken before the sanitary commission , Avith a view to show that tho medical acoommodatton in the camp was of the worst possible description . A system of rivalry exists between the civil and the military hospitals ; anil , while the civil surgeons are
puid at the rate ot two guineas a day , the army surgeons have only 7 t ? . Od . It is not therefore surprising that assistant-surgeons should be leaving the army tor more profitable occupation . In conclusion , Mr . Stafford mentioned that ho is'Shortly going again to tho camp ; and he felt that this nation is responsible for a great waste of hitman life . —Mr . Fkeukuiok 1 ' kki . Htntod that an inquiry is now being made into the allegations made b y tho " Army ( Surgeon" ii » I'i . s letter to the Times ; and tho testimony of'two civil surgeons had already shown that those allegations were a gross imposition on public credulity . The pay of civil and army surgeons is not so unequal as might soon ) , since tho latter have many allowances to which the former are not entitled . The health of the Critnortii anny ia now
much improved ; preparations are already being made for wintering in the camp ; several reforms have been . effected in -the medical department ; < and arrangements are being made at the hospitals which will increase the comforts of the > sick and wounded . With a few exceptions , Mr . Peel did not object to the production of the documents moved for ; and ultimatel y th e mo tion , in an amended form , was agreed to .
_ TOE INDIAN AEMT . The House having resolved itself into a committee upon Indian accounts and papers , Mr . Vernon Smith detailed the items of revenue and expenditure of the different Presidencies . These exhttrited a deficiency of three millions , owing c hiefl y to the increase of expenditure upon public works for the improvement of India . It would ncrt be prudent to reduce the Indian army ; and the attempt to reduce the interest of the Indian debt had been met by a new five per cent , loan . It had been said that an amount of 10 , 000 600 ? " . was required ; bat it was a question whretherit miglrt not be red-need considerably . He did not think it possible , however , to effect any reduction of taxation , and , with rrespect to public works , the sura -expended upon then , -ought not to be considered as a loss , sin ce gr e at improvements are b e ing mad e in pris ons
roads , and other internal matters . The ¦ mode by whiaii the income and expenditure may be equalised , must be left to -the -consideration of the Indian Government ; and be was sure that when the present difficulties ar e s u rmounted , permanent prosperity will set in . Upon the whole , he believed the political and social state of India to be satisfactory . Friendly relations exist with Nepaul ; and , although Persia h a s b e en intri guing with Russia , no fear need be entertained of a Russian invasion of our Indian Empire . Steps have been taken to put an end to the practice of torture ; a new system of competition for appointments in the civil service has been instituted ; and the education of the natives is progressing . " With a compliment to the new Governor-General , « Mr . Vernon Smith concluded by moving the adoption of the report .
Mr . Bright , in moving that the an nual acco u nt s of the finances of India be made up to the 20 th of O ctober , and the annual statement brought forward at an earlier period of the session , when ther e i s more time for examination , observed that he c o uld not hel p suspecting there had not been common honesty on the part of the Indian Government in the conversion of the five per cents , into four per cents ., follow e d first by a thr e e and a half per cent , loan , and then b y one at five per cent ., c all e d ( though delusiv e l y ) a Pnblic Works Loan . He conceived that the deficit did not reall y aris e from expenditure on public works ; and he denounced the secrecy observed bj T the Indian Government in connexion with financial matters .
Sir James Hogg contended , in answer to Mr . Brig ht , that the conversion of the Five per Cents , was perf e ctl y justitmble , and that the Public Works Loan is nothing more than what it pretends to be ; Sir Cuarues Wood expressed a similar op inion , and made some statements in justification of his financial calculations last year ; and Mr . John Phillimose , Mr . Otwav , Mr . Henley , Mr . WniTEsiDE , Mr . Mangles , Mr . Daxhv Seymour , and Mr . V . Scully , having sp ok e n , the resolutions of Mr . Vehnon Sairrn were agreed to , as were those of Mr . Bright , with aomc sli ght alterations . The Militia Pay Bill was read a third time and passed . CORNET BAUMOAETElf .
I n the H ouse of C omm o ns , on " Wednesday , in reply to a question put by Mr . Stanley , Mr . Frederick Peel stated that an inquiry had b ee n made in the Crimea into the conduct of Captain F it z wygram , of the 1 st Dragoons , towards Cornet Baumgartun , the r e s u lt o f w hich e ntir e ly e xo nerat e d him from blame . . The Burial Biix was read a third time ana passed , with some amendments . The adjourned debate upon the additional clauses and the other amendments proposed upon the third reading of the Criminal Justick Bill was then resumed , and the bill ultimately passed . Other bills were forwarded their respective stages , and the House adjourned . LIMITED LIABILITY DILL .
In tho House of Lords , on Thursday , Lord Gkanville succeeded , in smite of some opposition , in procuring the suspension of the standing order m layour of several bills which could not otherwise have been discussed—Upon tho Limited Liability Kill , " debate arose upon a proposition by Lord St . Lkonako s ro refer it to a . select committee ; Lord C ^ n-im ^ , Lord Gkkv , Lord Montea « i . k , iuuI L ord K . ' '" f ^ ' ^ rd supporting the motion , which wan rested bj l GuANvn . i . E and Lord Stam-h ' . Up *»> « ' . a b ' the motion of Lord » v . 1 - >^ " ;; ; ^ ^^ spite a majority of 2 S to II , »»¦> u ' ^ nm . it tee upon of further ronioiw ra . ice « oi into c Anwnt 9 th e bill , and " ''^ ^( ivenirnent , and which atlS /^ Sue ^ of ' dctai ., po-ed it trough that atnge ,
Atoust 1^ 1s&5*] Tg.B Leader. ^G9
Atoust 1 ^ 1 S & 5 *] Tg . B LEADER . ^ g 9
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 11, 1855, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_11081855/page/3/
-