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February 16, 1856,] THE LEADEB. 14 %
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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.
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English Ambassador , and that this had given rise to the trwo different statements . But he regretted that Lord Grey had brought forward the question at this moment ,
NAVAL ESTIMATES . In the House of Commons , ou the motion for going into Committee of Supply on the naval estimates , Sir Henry Willotjghby complained that there had been a considerable expenditure in excess of the estimates voted last year—a most dangerous principle , since it places in the hands of Government a power of expenditure uncontrolled by the House . —Mr . William Willia' . s , in criticising some of the items in the estimates ( though with no view to crippling the resources of the country , should a vigorous prosecution of the war be necessary ) , said that in the number of men there was an increase of six thousand over the vote of last year , acnd suggested a deferring of this part of the vote , pending the negotiations .
^ The House then resolved itself into a Committee of Supply , when Sir Charles Wood ( after a passing allusion to various improvements lately effected in the official arrangements of the Admiralty ) stated that the estimates had been framed on the calculation of a continuation of tbe war ; but onl y a part of each vote would then be asked for . For the active force of the navy it was intended to aak a vote of 66 , 000 seamen and marines , being 6 , 000 more than last year , and 10 , 000 boys . The estimate for the wages of this force was £ 3 , 237 , 893 , showing an increase of £ 352 , 356 beyond the amount granted last year ; but of this gross total he should require a present vote of only £ 2 , 000 , 000 . The grand total for the naval service
reaches £ 12 , 148 , 641 , showing a net augmentation over the previous estimate of £ 291 , 135 , besides a vote of £ 204 , 000 for the excess of expenditure incurred beyond the grants of the bygone session . The amount of work performed by the Transport Service has been immense . Not to speak of the vast quantities of materiel and provision , 294 , 000 men had been embarked and conveyed to and from the Crimea . Among other additions to tile havy , 152 new gun and mortar Viats were in course of preparation augmenting to a total of 200 the number of that species of vessels
, which would be read y for service in the Baltic should the campaign reopen . Altogether , should war continue , they wouli be fully prepared to despatch 350 pennants to the Baltic «« , a 100 to the Black Sea , It would thus be seen that measuro * had been taken for carrying on the war with the enemy , whoever be might be , with every human means of success . Replying to the observations of Sir Henry Willoughbv bir Charles explained , as the cause of the excess , that it is not easy to measure the amount so closely as to avoid any surplus .
After some remarks from Admiral "Walcott , Sir Henry Willougrby , Captain Scobell , and Admiral Berkeley , Sir Cuakles Napier congratulated the country on the statement of the First Lord of the Admiralty , and enlarged on tho necessity for naval reform , the naval business of tlie country being conducted iu a state of the greatest confusion , one part at Whitehall , and the other at Somerset House . The present board had introduced some very good changes m details ; but , with a "better system , throe
Lords of tho Admiralty might be spared , and the whole busiuess be more efficiently conducted by the First Lord and two others . —Sir Francis Baring advised the House not to return to the former system of haviug a long list of Admirals , many of them , from old age and long staying on shore unable to perform their duties afloat . —Lord Hotuam expressed his satisfaction at tho assurances given that employment and promotion in tho dockyards would take placo without retorouce to political considerations : and Mr Bhnmnck ixdvwtd
« to the anomal y of havim ? a civilian at tho bund of tho Admiralty . Tho vote of £ 2 . 14 , 982 was agroud ' tn . A vote of 76 , 000 men for a limited poriod , and votes onouoount of . £ 2 . 000 , 000 for their wagos , and £ 1 , 000 , 000 for their food , wore likewise agreed to . The remaining votoH underwent some discussion , but passed without amendment ; and tho resolutions wcro ordered to bo reported . Tins HotisK of Commons Ojti'iobs } BjLfi was road a third tiiuo and passed . Tumlai / , February V 2 th . The House ov Lords , ou the motion of tho Loud Oiianoeu . ou , i-eaolvod itself into a Committee of Pwvilogo ou i-. lxo patent of
TUB WlONRUOYDALH riDEltAOK . Aftor a littlo preliminary difloussiou , Mr . 11 . U . Shftrpo , AnBirflnut Koopor of the Rolls , produced the original patents of creation of two poeragoa iu tho roigu of Riohurd 11 . —GJuiuoiird D'Anglo , oroatod Earl of Huntingdon ; aiml Do Voro , Eiirl of Oxford , oroatod Marquis , and then Duko , of Dublin . Ho gavo in a Hat of several others , wliioh have boon prinbod iu tho aeries of national records containing tho patouts of peomgo . lho patent of tho Wnrl of Huntingdon was utuiout iHoKibla from ago and discoloration , and tho wltnena read the oontouts of tho parchment roll from tho printed volume of tho rooorda . The creation of this Feov waa for life . The patent of tho Marl of Oxford
was also a creation for life only . Mr . Sbarpe was reading the latter patent when he was interrupted by Lord Ellenborough , who requested him to read clearly and slowly , as the House could not follow the old law Latin when read rapidly . An irregular conversation , then ensued , the Lord Chancellor contending ; that it was not usual to read such ( tocurnents at length ; all that was necessary was to give them in . Some discussion also took place on the right of Lord Wensleydale to present himself and demand admission to his seat in the House ; Lord Campbell giving notice that , if he did so before the Committee of Privileges carue to its decision , be would move that
the new Lord be refused admission ; and the Lord Chancellor arguing that the royal writ of summons is the legal authority , and that Lord Wensleydale is bound to obey . Finally , it was agreed that the reading of the old law documents should not be gone on with ; and Lord BkougeCam and Lord Campbell undertook to assist Lord Lyndhubst in the selection of documentary evidence . A list of patents in several reigns aud of rolls of Parliament to be so exa-mined was then put in and read , and Lord Lyndhuest proposed that the committee should adjourn till Monday . This was assented to ., after some further discussion witb reference to matters of form .
On the House resuming , Lord Campbell moved that notice be given to Sir James Parke that he might attend and be heard before the Committee , either by himself or his counsel , if he thought proper to do so . It being objected , however , that such an order must be addressed , not to Sir James Parke ^ but to Lord Wensleydale , and that he could not , according to precedent , be called on to appear in person , Lord Campbell withdrew his motion , but gave notice that he should renew it on another day in a modified form . The House then adjourned during pleasure , but met again at five o'clook . No business of importance , however , was transacted .
SARDINIA AKD THE CONSTANTINOPL E CONFERENCES . In -the House of Commons Mr . Layabd inquired wheth-sr it was true that the representative of the Sardinian Government had been excluded from the conferences at Constantinople , and , if so , on what account . —; Lord Palmerston replied that the conferences i-elatedj not to matters connected with the treaty of peaoe , but to arrangements for the settlement of the question as to the rights and privileges of the non-Mussulman subjects of the Porte .
SCOTTISH MUNICIPAL REFORM . Mr . Ewart obtained leave to bring in a bill to extend the provisions of the Scottish Municipal Reform Act to nine royal burghs in Scotland , no ~ w excluded from the benefits of that act .
ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM AND PUBLIC JUSTICE . Mr . Napier moved " That in the opinion of this House , as a measure of Administrative Reform , provision should be made for an efficient and responsible department of public justice , with a view to secure the skilful preparation and proper structure of parliamentary billB , and promote the progressive amendment of the laws of the United Kingdom . " Tke laws of the British Empire are in a condition perfectly disgraceful to a civilised country ; there being , besides a vast mass of common law and customs scattered over a great number of volumes , three different systems of laws , one for England , one for Scotland , and one for Ireland . The number of public statutes applying- to
England and Ireland , exclusive of local and private acta , is 18 , 284 . This is in addition "to the commou law , which is oonamon to both countries . There are thirty-four volumes of English a . nd nineteen volumes of Irish acts . Before the Union , there were 2 , 263 public statutes peculiar to Ireland , and 1 , 300 have been added since The system of double legislation which prevails creates the greatest inconvenience , and inflicts great evils upon society . Lord Bacon remarked on the accumulation of tho statutes «> bin own time , though the number wais then only 2 , 17 * 2 . Mr . JM apior produced , a book which showed that in tho reign , of her present Majesty more public statutes had boon passed than oxisted down to tho reign of Elizabeth . Some of the statutes which remained
uurepoaled were absurd and ludicrous in tho extreme . For example , one statute imposed a penalty on Irish prelates for bringing any Irishman to > Parliament ; another iniposod a penalty for carrying coals to No-woarttlo . ( Laiujhtcr . ) Another prohibited any Irishman froiu coining to England without a tosthnouial from tho Lord-Lioutenant ; another forbad any person kooping more than 2 , 000 snoop ; another had reference to abstinence from flush in Lent . These wore more Hamplea of the mass of obsolete statutes . Tho
statute law tiomuuHnion gavo a lint of 10 , 0 < 17 Htatutea which woro either repealed or obaoloto ,- Tho laws of tho United States had boon digested into tliroo ootuvo voluinon ; ami , uh long ago oh the reign of Jamon L , Lord Baeon proposed to codify tho lawn of England . But tho work had yet to bo done , though iu 1843 Lord Brougham , aud in 18 f ) 8 tho present Lord ChiAuuollor , mudo proposals for the effecting of ho douimblo a roform . With roHnoot to tho other branch of Iub Bubjoot , Mr . Napier luhidod to the too grout roivdinoHfl with which bills aro introduced , tho rowults
being blunders , amendments upon amendments delay , confusion , and inconsistency . A minister charged especially with the care of such matters -would prevent all these mistakes and shortcomings . There are Boards of Trade , of Health , of Works , of "War : why should not Justice have a Department and a Minister ?—The motion was seconded b y Mr . Collier , and supported by Mr . Locke King , and Mr . "Wigram , Mr . Drummond , Mr . Ewart , and Mr . Wilkinson . Mr . Baines , while admitting the importance of the subject , said that the Statute Law Commissioners had prepared a plan for appointing an officer to watch over the current legislation of both Houses ; and he therefore submitted to the House whether it would
not be better to wait and see this plan , instead of pledging itself to an indefinite motion . Recommendations to the same effect were made by Lord John Russell ( who spoke in high terms of the proposal for a Minister of Justice made b y Mr . Kapier ) , "b y Sir Georgs Grey , Mr . Craujfurd , Mr . Malins , Mr . Roundell Palmer , and Lord Palmersto 2 j , the last of whom observed that the difficulties in fche way of a Minister of Justice would be almost insuperable .
No doubt , he said , errors do creep into Acts of Parliament ; but he doubted if the presence of a Minister of Justice would prevent them , for , in the case of independent members , it would be stoutly insisted on that any phraseology objected to by the Minister must be retained ; and to give the _ Minister despotic power , would be inconsistent with a free , deliberative assembly . The errors complained of often arose from the resistance to measures—a resistance arising from a great variety of opinions .
On the suggestion of Sir George < 3-rey , Mr . Napier consented to strike out that part of his motion which pledged the House to the establishment of a new department in the State . The motion thus amended was agreed to .
CARDIGAN BAY . Mr . Lloyd Davis moved for a " select committee to inquire into the advisability of constructing a harbour of refuge and defence in Cardigan Bay ; and whether it may not be advantageous also , to employ convict labour in the said works . " A great loss of life and property occurred annuall y from the want of a harbour of refuge in Cardigan Bay . As a means of defence against an invading foe , Cardigan Bay was peculiarly adapted ; and convict labour could be
profitably employed an the construction of the works . —Sir Charles Wood did not think that a sufficient case had been made out in support of the motion . It "was true that a descent was made on the Welsh coast , some fifty or sixty years ago ; but he believed , such was the bravery of the inhabitants , that fche invaders were put to flight by a bevy of Welsh wome n in red petticoats . ( Cheers and Ictuglite-r . ) Nautical opinion was unfavourable to the eligibility of the bay for the purpose of a harbour of refuge . —After a short discussion , the motion was negatived by 118 to 44 .
contractors' disqualification removal . Mr . Thomas Mitchell asked leave to bring in a bill to repeal the Act 22 George III ., < lisqualifying contractors from being elected to , or sittiug and voting as members in , the House of Commons . —The Chancellor of the Exchequer , hi asseuting to the motion , reserved his own office , as having to do with contracts over which tbe Government has complete control . —The Solicitor-General characterised the bill as of dangerous tendency . A division was called for , and leave was given by 46 against 43 . Wednesday , February I 3 t 7 & . The House of Lords did not sit . In the House op Commons , the Marquis of Blandfoud moved for leave to introduce hia bill of last session for THE FORMATION AND ENDOWMENT OF DISTINCT
PARISHES . He observed that tho original intention in forming parishes was to ox-cute a bond of brotherhood . It iuufjfc by admitted that groat benefit tc * the oountry had accrued from tho parochial system ; but defects hud arisen which required a remedy . Under the pre-Bont system tlioro exist tho parish churches , district chapolries , consolidated ohapolries , and particular district churohos , winch create tho greatest confusion . Tlio Inoumbout of a district church is not allowed to perform some of tho church sorvioos iu the district church . The parishioners are obliged to repair to tho piirinli churoh to have tho coroniony of bnptl . siM , for instance , performed , ami on some ooouhiomm tho niouna
of tho parish ohurch aro iumSoqunto in moot the demands made upon thorn . This is particularly the case in MauohoHtor nn < l St . VixxionxH . Bo anomalous a distinction loads also to tho pnymont of doublQ foos , which i « mioblior nouvco of confusion , Tho Houeo wiib 'veil aware of Llio diinoulfcios of the ohuroh-rato question . His bill oontatnod a provision on that aubjoot . Tho minister of tho diHtriot church i » now oullod tho pnvpolual cunifco . Ho proposed that ho ahoukl bo honooi ' orlh cullocl tho vicar . Tho bill provided that , i >« tho application , of tho incumbent , tho eharohwardous , and two-thirds of tho inhabitants , tho EooioMiaaticftl Ooniuiiuaionora should bi » empowered by order iu Gounoil to convert theao chnpulvies into uopavato and indopondont ii « , rishoB . It further pro -
February 16, 1856,] The Leadeb. 14 %
February 16 , 1856 , ] THE LEADEB . 14
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 16, 1856, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_16021856/page/3/
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