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FRANCE . THE NEW PRESS LAW . There are rumours current in the best informed circles , that ft note of a character likely to be anything bat agreeable to Lonis Napoleon bas just reached Paris from St . Petersburg . Whether His an instruction to the Russian minister or a formal despatch , is not at present to be ascertained . It 3 contents , however , are as nearly as possible of the following character : —The Czar can no longer regard in silence the rapid steps by which the Prince-President is advancing to an nnmistakeable term—has seen with displeasure certain decrees published by the President of the Republic soon after the results of the vote of December the 20 th and 21 st
became known—the act which substitutes the Imperial eagle for the Gallic cock on the standards of the Republic—that which establishes the effigy of the President on the coinage —and , finally , that which transfers the presidents residence from the Elytee to the Tuileries . His Majesty saw in these Tiriou 3 acts , more or less significative indications of the reestablishment of another Imperial era , an occurrence which he must feel it his duty to prevent . The note , it is believed , says nothing of the Orleans decrees . The Russian minister bas been to the Foreign office , and if he has not produced the note he has acted upon it by demanding explanations on the subject referred to . The president himself bas since seen the Russian minister , and is said to have betrayed great indignation at th ? suspicions entertained .
The Moniteur' publishes the law on the press , of which the main provisions are as follows : — 'No paper may be established without government authority . Political newspapers pnblished in foreign countries will not be allowed to circulate in France without government authority . Persons introducing or distributing a foreign paper without such authority are to be punished with imprisonment varying from one month to one year , and a fine of from 100 / . to 5 , 000 f . The caution-money of a paper appearing more than thrice a week to be 50 , 0007 . AH publication of a paper without
authority , or without lodging the caution-money , is to be punished , with a fine of from lOOf , to 2 , 000 f . for each numfjer , and imprisonment of from one month to two years . The stamp duties imposed on newspapers are also applicable to foreign newspapers , unless they are exempted under a diplomatic convention . A journal may be sup . -pressed without previous condemnation , by decree of the executive . It is forbidden to publish reports of trials for press offences . The courts may prohibit publication of other trials . The Prefect designates the journal in which judicial advertisements must be inserted . '
The correspondent of the'Daily News' states- . — « I have heard rumours of schemes of territorial aggrandisement , which have prevailed more or less ever since the 2 nd of December , serionsly discussed in one of the leading political circles of the capital . Thus reports , which at first appear so absolutely incredible that one can barely allude to them in the most reserved manner without appearing to exaggerate , gradually gather head , and assume a palpable probability . I alluded , on the accession of M . de Persigny to office , to the scheme of annexing Belgium as then growing into a settled and serious plan . You have seen since that time how prostrate the government of Leopold has been before every demand that has been made epon it . The independence of the Belgian press bas been extinguished , the
persons of refugees violated ; and now I hear that the destruction of the Waterloo lion , and the indemnity for the Ant . vrerp expedition have been granted as soon as urged . It was all along evident that Belgium had no support but England ; and now the notion has been taken up by the French government that even Great Britain would only bluster a little , and then give up the point rather than risk a war . Certain it is that Belgium swarms with French emissaries , and that agents of the government of Louis Napoleon have been sedulously engaged in sapping the allegiance of the army of Leopold ; so that a military declaration in favour of annexation to France , which might easily be got np in the Belgian garrison , would be interpreted here as the cry of the Belgian people , and acted upon accordingly . Intrignes are on foot also for obtaining , the cession of the Grand
Duchy of Baden , through the mediation of the President ' s aunt , the Princess Stephanie , Dowager Grand Duchess of Baden . I mention this , as the annexation of Baden , as well as the Rhine province of Prnssia , was seriously discussed to-day in the drawing-room ( of which I have spoken above ) , where such projects certainly would not have been mentioned had they been as unreal as migbt'be supposed . ' _ Independence' of Brussels publishes a model petU tion , which the supporters of Louis Napoleon are circulating for signature , in order to its presentation to the Senate upon its meeting . The prayer of the petition is , that Louis Napoleon may graciously assume the empire , and constitute it hereditary , in order to assure France against evils which she is now dreading . The first petition emanates from the town of Cbatillon-sur-Loire .
A correspondent says : — 'The stspiation of affairs IB complained of bitterly on all hands . " I am told by a lacemaker on the Boulevards that , during the month of January , he usually sells about three thousand pounds' worth of lace . Last January he sold lace to the amount of 49 fr . This simple fact , which bas come under my own observation , will enable you to form some estimate of the distress generally felt by those who subsist on the sale of articles of luxury . ' It is said that the formation o a sort of imperial guard 13 in contemplation . This would consist of four picked regixnents , two of which would consist of foot-grenadiers , one of horse-grenadiers , and one of hussars . A decree enacts that the only day celebrated as a national Jete shall be August 15 th , the Emperor ' s birthday .
All objects having belonged to French sovereigns are to be collected from the provincial museums , and to form a division of the Louvre . A long decree regulates the emigration and engagements ef workmen in the colonies . The Precurseur d'Anvers' states that M . Greppo ( the old friend of Proudhon ) has been engaged as foreman in a silk manufactory in Switzerland . Before becoming a member of the National Assembly Greppo was considered a most skilfnl workman . The sub-Prefect of Domfront , in the Orne , has suppressed the game of la soule ( foot-ball ) within his jurisdiction . That game had existed in the department since the period of the Gauls .
BELGIUM . The Belgian government has just ordered an augmentation of 100 men in each of the battalions of the regiments ofthe line of the Belgian army . As there are fortj-nine battalions , this will make the total augmentation 4 , 900 . It is reported also , says the Presae , ' that the government intends to apply to the Chambers for a credit of 6 , 000 , 000 francs for the est ablishment of an entrenched camp in the environs of Antwerp , and for putting into a state of defence the letede Handera .
ITALY . LOMBARD ! . —The 'Official Milan Gazette , ' of the 12 th , contains a decree from Count Strasoldo , Imperial Lieutenant of Lombard ? , directing that all money transactions by contract are henceforth to be effected in Austrian money to the exclusion of all old or foreign currencies , and are to be understood so in courts of law , unless it be clearly proved that the parties really intended for some special object to stipulate for a particular description of currency . A letter from Milan , in the Opinione' of Turin , of the 13 th , states that the forts of Milan are to be immediately completed , and that the government has established a reserve fund to meet the expenses of a war , in case it should break out . Lombardy is at this moment entirely support * ing by her taxes 100 , 000 men of the Army in Austrian Italy . The population of Lombardy and Venice is only 5 , 000 , 000 . The pressure upon the tax-payers is producing extensive emigration .
ROME . —February 10 ih being the anniversary of the establishment of a republican form of government in Rome three years ago , wa 9 saluted at early dawn by petards , and explosions resembling discharges of artillery , in many parts of the city , much in the same manner that the ecclesiastical authorities fire off the cannoa of St . Angelo on tbe annual recurrence of Christmas or Eaeter-day . The operation most nave required as ranch courage as dexterity on the part of the repnblicans and their agents , as the slirri were by no means forgetful of the ominous anniversary , and were about at an early hour to prevent any celebration of it . They made some arrests of unoffending individuals , . who were proceeding to their morning avocations , and were unlucky enough to be near the petards at the moment of their explosion .
GERMANY . PRUSSIA . —Another branch has been lopped from the stem of the Constitution , and one of the most important . The Upper Chamber , in tbe sitting of the 11 th inst ., affirmed the motion of M- Klee , removing the trial of political offences and crimes from the competence of a jury . By the present amendment , offences committed through the press are still left to a jury court , « in so far as the law does not name special exemptions ; ' but political offences and misde meanours are wholly taken away from the competence of the ' Geschworne . ' The debate was brief and altogether unwor thy of the great principle at stake . The arguments ¦
we re . neither deep nor extensive ; a few assertions , assumptions , and generalities sufficed lo cancel almost the only article of the Constitution that was worth preserving . Ths abtion was carried by ninety-two votes against fifty . A second motion , which may be considered a pendant to the -rat , by Count Itzenpli'z , was also carried . It proposes to create a ' S ' ate Tribunal' for ths trial of political offences . AUSTRIA . —The official papers confirm the fact of a dispatch having been received by the last American post , from the Chevalier Hnlsemann , Autrian Charge d'Jffairet at Washington , stating that ' he had broken off all diplomatic " tereoune with the government of the United States . ' The Wsitiou of tha American representative at Vienna has long
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been both difficult and disagreeable . The behaviour of both the court and the cabinet towards him has been evensuf . fered to bs commented on in the censor-ridden press , and after a residence m Vienna of about twelve months he is stated never to have been received by the Emperor till within this last week or so , and then very coldly , ajjfriiot in * ¥ ¦?? % aadlence - Soiae admirable laws have just been puWlBnea respecting that dangerous class of offenders who have lately been so often detected in doing wilful damage to railroads and telegraphs . The punishment to be awarded them will be estimated by the miicbief done : for any injury to property the offender will be imprisoned five years ; if any danger is incurred to life or limb this term will be doubled ; and if death is occasioned the criminal will suffer the extreme penalty of the law , just as if he had committed murder in any other way .
UNITED STAmS . # Onr advices state that a new sUH has been announced in tbe commercial market , —the Kjgfeth bonds , of which the following is an official intimation : —The Hungarian General Committee , located in this city ( New York ) have been for some time devising a scheme for the issue of obligations of various amounts , to constitute a national loan for Hungary . Last evening the arrangements were completed . The bonds will fee in Bums of one , five , ten , twenty , fifty , and a hundred dollars , each one bearing the signature of Kossuth , and made payable by the government of Hungary , upon the establishment of a republic . These certificates will be immediately prepared for distribution . Hungarian committees and private individuals may obtain them j and it is presumed tue demand will be
extremely pressing . One of the most eminent lawyers has given it as his opinion that the issue of these bonds will be an indictable offence ; and there will not be wanting those eager to arrest every member of the Kojsuth committee . Every mail from the west brings us news of continued ovations to this extraordinary man . Material aid , however , flows in scantily , and Kossuth has openly expressed regret at the expense lavished on civic entertainments accorded him , and which might have been so much more profitably spent on Hungarian exiles in this and other countries . He has , however , raised six thousand dollars in Pittsburg and its vicinity—principally from the contributions of the working classes , numbers of whom he has personally visited in the foundries , factories , &c . He is again represented as quite ill . The Ohio State senators have subscribed five dollars each to the Hungarian fund , and it is said that the members of the house wili do the
same . SPAIN . The Queen ' s health continued most satisfactory . She still desired to repair to the church of Atocha on the loth , but the physicians considered her Majesty too feeble to undertake that pilgrimage . They , moreover , feared the excitement which the enthusiastic reception she would experience on that day might produce . Numerous carpenters were working day and night in erecting columns and triumphal arches in the streets through which the royal cortege was to pass .
CHINA . From the Hong Kong papers we learn that a terrible fire took place on the night of the 28 th , by which nearly 500 houses were destroyed , in a part of the Chinese town known as Sheong-Wau , and that 6 ome officers and privates in attempting to blow up a house by gunpowder to prevent the further spread ef the fire , were killed by the explosion . The rebellion in Kwang-si still continues , but the operations are described as of the most insignificant character .
INDIA . Our advices from India state that in- May last a circular was sent round to all residents , judges , and magistrates , at out stations , directing them to inquire into the existence and origin of the belief that seemed to be becoming general through the country that any decision that was required might be obtained from tbe Bombay government , by sending large sums to the presidency , to be made use of for purposes of corruption , or what is termed fchutput amongst the natives . To this a long and elaborate reply was sent in by Colouel Outram , giving the explanations government seemed to desire , and showing that at Baroda the beliet in
these practices had long been universal—enclosing a list of decisions given or reversed , in accordance with the wishes of those chiefly suspected of corrupting , as grounds for the suspicion . Some time after this , a vast mass of papers was sent in by him on the oppression suffered by the Settanee Joetabhaee , who had , though under our guardianship , been robbed of her only son , stripped of all her property , and her good name slandered away ; when the Bombay government summarily dismissed him from tbe best paid appointment under them , and the Governor refused him an audience—his sole offence being his anxiety to preserve the British name immaculate , and his efforts to put down and expose the monstrous corruption of the British residency .
SWITZERLAND . The ' Federal Journal' of Switzerland has the following , under the head of Berne;— 'The note of the French government , recently presented to the Federal Council , complains of the hostility of the Swiss press to the President . We are assured that the ambassador of France , M . Fenelon , declared , in presenting the note , that the French republic meant that it should be executed , hot discussed . This has produced great sensation at Berne . ' The' Gazette' of the Canton de Vaud states that the French government had de . mauded from the Swiss government , in the most peremptory terms , the expulsion of the French political refugees from the places where they now reside to ones to be named by the government of France . The Geneva journals of the 15 th publish a circular issued by the government of that
canton , requiring all French refugees whom recent events have brought into Switzerland , and whose passports are not en regie , to present themselves at the bureau of police , and state whether they demand an asylum , or are prepared to apply for travelling passports . Those who have been cited before the French tribunals , or condemned for contumacy , must , if they desire to remain in Switzerland , repair to the interior , to a distance of at least eight leagues from the frontier ; those who desire to leave may receive passports , under the sanction oi the federal authority . Citizens are reminded that they are forbidden , under penalty , to entertain strangers , without making the declaration to the proper bureau , which grants permit de sejour . It is added that these admonitions are made by the council of the canton , at the demand of the federal com
. The ' Journal de Geneve' announces a strike of 400 working jewellers , on account of a misunderstanding with the masters .
AUSTRALIA . IMPORTANT NEWS FROM THE GOLD DIGGINGS OF AUSTRALIA . By the Overland India and China Mail we have received accounts from the gold diggings to the beginning of November . Extraordinary excitement was created by the announcement of gold being discovered at Melbourne , Port Philip ( now called Victoria ) , in such prodigious abundance as to leave the Sydney diggings completely in the shade . From all accounts the Melbourne diggings are inexhaustible , whilst the daily jield to each man exceeds in quantity the lucky weights of which we heard so much in the early gold history of California . About 10 , 000 diggers were at work
at the mines at tbe end of October , and the average yield or earnings of each digger was from 1 } to 1 £ ounce of gold per man per day . Flocks , herds , workshops , and the fields were all deserted by men , who preferred the moderate luck of £ 20 to £ 100 per day at the dig . gings , to toiling for a whole week for as many shillings . Government escorts had been established to protect the treasure in its transit to town , the daily amount transported being from 2 , 000 to 3 , 000 ounces . For example , on October 23 rd , the arrival of gold under escort from the neighbourhood of Melbourne was 88 lbs . 11 oz . 4 dffts ., and 1361 bs . 9 oz . 16 grains from the Geelong and Ballarat diggings , or a total of 2 , 708 oz . 4 dwr . 16 grs . Some notion may be formed of individual success from the
circumstance that on October 23 rd the large amount of 931 bs . weight , or 1 , 116 ozs ., was exposed for sale in the rooms of Symons and Perry , in BourKe-street . The person in whose possession it was stated that a party of seven had obtained it at the Ballarat diggings in the space of fourteen days . A man named Sewell had returned from Mount Alexander , bringing with him gold , for which he obtained a cheque for £ 75 , being the earnings of fourteen days' work , rhe following is taken from the Melbourne 'Daily News , ' October 25 : —
• A Mr . Leete called at our office last night , and kindly communicated that he hsd jnst arrived in town from MoHnt Alexander , bringing with him 250 oz . of gold , which he and four others had obtained in the short space of one week . He had 6 I-4- oz . with him , which , on inspection , we found to be precisely similar to that obtained at Ballarat , with this slight difference , that none of the particles were smaller than the head of a pin , and gradually ascending to nuggets about the size of a Turkey-bean , ' The effect of this news was that nearly every male quitted for the diggings , leaving few but women in tbe town . Many of these seekers had returned disappointed ; they all agree in saying that gold is only to be obtained after an immense quantity of labour .
From Adelaide news to November 13 , mentions the discovery of small pieces of gold t aken from a piece of quartz , on Mr . Boord s section on the Torrens , about nine miles from Adelaide .
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A Chailbsge to the Yankees .-We understand that Mr . Charles Mare , the eminent shipbuilder of BlackwalJ , has challenged the Americana to run a vessel against any that they can produce for a thousand guineas . The tonnage of the shipa to be from fift y to 300 tona . —United Service QasiUt . * j
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MONDAY , Feb . 16 . HOUSE OP L 0 RDS .-AWA 1 R 3 op IHWA .-The Earl oi EtLitNBOKOUOH said that since he had given notice of his in tention to ask the government what measures they " ntended to pursue during the present session with regard to tbTe piration of- the East India Company ' s charter hehad seen that it was proposed at an early day to move for a Select Committee on the subject in the House of ComrooSsAll therefore , that he would now ask was when the Wrn men meant 0 move for a similar Committee in ffi " oS When that Committee was appointed , he honed th « on ™™ mentwould be able to affoi / fhe wUS&S ^ dian matters , as was the case when he moved for a like Committee in 1830 . With regard to our dispute with the Burmese , he hoped , though he could scarcely believe it that the accounts just received of its settlement were true He was afraid , too , that if hostilities ensued , the govern ment would find the claims for compensation from British subjects enormous . » "wsn
Ihe Marquis of Laksdownb replied that it was his intention to move for a Select Committee on Indian affairs though he could not say at that moment when he should bring forward his motion . If , when the CommittGo ™ tions he would find the government prepared to produce the desired information . The noble Marquis then entered into an explanation as to the dispute at Rangoon , S bat he had no reason to doubt the sincerity of the concefsion granted by the Burmese Emperor , and concluding by de clarmg his conviction that we had right on our " ide * More Admiralty BujNDERs . -The Duke- of Montrose to the ship Megcora , which had been eniDloveri tn t » v « n ,, ( 8
; VT , t - «? Ty ^\ t ™>* had ° <* embarked a t Dover and within forty-eight hours had encountered a heavy gale in the channel The sea stores and stock belong to the officers were placed on deck in a most disgraceful manner and from the want of proper caulking the water " I ffi the vessel m a most unusua manner . The ship hud arrived at Madeira and . by private letters which he had received ne learnt that this defect continued throughout the vovace to the great discomfort and annoyance of the troops He wished to ask what amount of ordnance stores were on S ^ S ? . * 8 blame ° ° inconveniences
com-The Larl of Minto said that the ship had been fitted up with more than the usual care ; that inquiry had been made as to the number of men she could take , and the authorities at bneerness stated that 702 men could be conveniently accommodated in her ; that 677 officers and men were sent on board ; aud afterwards when the Birkenhead was fitting out to convey troops to the Cape , the Admiralty suggested that 100 of the rifle corps should be transferred to tfcat ship , but the answer was , that the officers preferred remaining together . The ship was fitted up with every comfort ; she sailed in bad weather ; and if the master . had done his duty , he would have taken shelter , and completed his stock at some other port than Plymouth ! iheiSarlof Eubnborouoh would recommend the noble duke- by and bye to move for tho doctor ' s report , which would be the true test of the conduct of the Admiralty . It was more important that 400 troops should be landed in a state of efficiency than COO suffering from the effects of tne voyage .
HOUSE OP COMMONS . -Capfc . Duncombe took the oaths and 1 his seat for East Retford , in the room of tho Hundreds Dunoombe ' had acC 9 P the" Chiltern Mr . Fergus O'CONSOR .-Mr . F . O'Connor was one of the earliest members in attendance to-day . Tho hon . member appears to have suffered much from his incarceration JP OoWbath-flelds prison . He no longer presents the bold front and joly rollicking appearance for which he was so remarkable , but stoops considerably , walks with an inSrm and uncertain step , and looks exceedingly pale and haggard . Mr . O Connor seemed especially anxious throughout the evening to court the attention of other members , many of whom he solicited to shake hands with him Bast India Company ' s Charter—Mi-. Fox Maule gave notice for Friday , the 27 th , to move for a select commftteo on the Bast India Company ' s Charter
Education in ScoTLASD . -LordJ . Russell stated , in answer to Mr Forbes M'Kenzie , that a measure on tho subject of education in Scotland was in preparation , and would be introduced in the course of the present session . " Cooked" Electoral Returns . —Sir B . Hall , Sir De Lacy Evans , and Mr . G . Thompson , called attention to 8 everalgross inaccuracies in the population roturns which government had laid on tbe table in explanation of the new Reform Bill . Sir G . Grey said tho returns had been furnished by the Registrar-General , but tho matter should be inquired into . Local Militia
New . —Lor-1 J . Russell , in committee of the whole house , brought forward his proposition to ve-embody the militia . As showing that the measure was not consequent on threateningsof war , he referred to his statement of 1848 that it was desirable to make provision for the defence of the country by means of a permanent militia , a proposition which was then withdrawn , the accompanying proposal of increased taxation not being palatable to the house . Speaking of the various treaties by which we wore bound to defend certain foreign countries , and to maintain the balance of power , he urged that it was impossible to say that circumstances might not arise , without any interference of ours , which would occ asion some disruption of our peaceful relations . The introduction of steam navigation , although it afforded U 3 au additional means of protection
on the one hand , lessened tbo natural difficulties which an invading force would have to contend against . Our military establishments , in consequence of the jealousy of the people , had been always in time of peace far below ^ those of continental powers . It was true , a small increase of our regular force was contemplated , to the extent of 4 , 000 men of the line and 1 , 000 artillerymen , or rather less than the whole number of reinforcements sent to the Cape , but this would not provide a force sufficient for homo defence . As the militia was formerly constituted it differed little in cost or description from the regular army , except that it could not be employed out of the country . The force now proposed would be a local one , and their services confined to the ' eountios in which they belonged ; the country dependingin case of
, actual hostilities , on a commensurate increase of the regular army . A trained militia might be usefully employed in repelling any sudden invasion while the necessary recruiting was going on , and that service over , they would return to their more limited and partial duty in their own counties . Tho first change in the measure now proposed from previous militia bills would be in the appointment of tho officers . Of these , two-thirds would bo appointed by the lord lieutenant and one field officer , aud one-third of the captains by tho Crown . Nor was the lord lieutenant to be restricted as formerly by property qualification , but , with the approbation ofthe Crown , might appoint who he thought fit . With regard to the men , every niarijbetween the ages of twenty and twenty-three would be liablo to the ballot for the first year ( under the Joldi Militia
Act the age was from eighteen to thirty ) , and in subsequent years those only would be ballotted who were between twenty and t , wenty-one . This it was calculated would oive a force of 80 , 000 men for the first year , and of 30 , 000 for after years . The namea of those liable in each union and county would be easily obtained from the census of last year , and they would be required to present themselves on a certain day , when the ballot would be taken , and onefifth of the whole number would be taken for service , ten per cent , being reserved to fill up deficiencies occasioned by admitted exemptions and failures at tho medical examination . The period of service would be four years , to be increased if neceaaiy by order in council for six months , and a further six months on an address to tbe crown by parliament in the event of threatened danger . Volunteers
would havo to serve a year less than the ballotted men . The force would be formed into battalions , and would bo assembled for training aud exercise from fourteen to twenty-eight days in the first year , and fourteen in subsequent years , and while out on duty the ordinary pay of soldiers would be allowed them . The annual expense was estimated at £ 200 , 000 , for which an efficient force of 30 , 000 trained men would be provided yearly . The total number ™? n eB enrolleil > il was Mtiraakd , would not bo less than 80 , 000 the first year , 101 , 000 the second year , and 120 , 000 the third , which was the outside limit to which he thought the torcf should be carried . The bill would be confined to England and Wales ; if , in tho course of time , . 1 similar measure for Scotland should be needed , it would be brought forward , but it was not proposed to extend the principle to Ire and . re
Mr . Reynolds did nob know whether tho exception of Ireland from the government plan was to be . regarded as a boon or an insult . ( Loud laughter . ) As an Irishman he could not except the exemption of Ireland as a compliment . ( Continued laughter . ) If the arguments of tho noble lord was good for embodying a local militia in England—and be ( Mr . Reynolds ) was not prepared to say that theywero not good—those arguments were still butter as applied to Ireland . If it was necessary because of the fear of an invasion from some part of the continent—and he could not guess as to the particular country by which they were most likely to be interfered with—to raise a local militia in England , there was more urgent need of possessing such a force in Ireland , where , in consequence of her geographical position , the danger was still greater . He must remind the noble lord that an Irish local militia was
embodied once before at a time of great peril , when the existence of the empire was in the scale , llo must remind the noble lord , in particular , of 1798 , when an armed French force arrived at Killala , and marched without impediment from tho Bay of Killala to tbo centre of Sligo ; and it should not be forgotten that that force was encountered by a body of Irish militia , commanded by Colonel Terecour , now Lord Gort . ( An honourable member—Surely not the present Lord Gort . ) Well , his father . ( Great laughter . ) It was a trifling mistake ; and there was no doubt that it was very creditable to the present Lord Gort to have had such a father . ( Roars of laughter . ) To have exempted Ireland from this plan was , therefore ( continued the hon . member ) , no compliment to the loyalty of that kingdom j and ho groatly regretted that the noble lord hud made such a mistake .
Lord J . Russell , in reply to Sir J . Parkington , said the local militia would never be called upon to serve out of their own counties except in the event of a threatened or actual invasion . Mr . Hume would prefer an increase to our regular army rather than a system which must operate as a severe tax on the labouriBg population . Government ought at least to give the-frauchise to those who were drawn . Were we to have seme new Holy Alliance against some one continental state I He was astonished at such ideas—at such a policy —in the present government . Was any man in that house « naad A 3 to think that he would , ever again see a Exitjak
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soldier on tbacontinent of . Europe aa anaggressor ' Such a sight would never be seen , would never be permitted again . To contemplate su « h a thing was tocomtemnlvn a renewal of that fatal foreign policy which hadfflf Hod £ 600 , 000 , 000 ( such was the sum named bv the hon mem bor ) upon the country , and which sum , * permanent dVJbt , ground down the whole people . The noble loud could not be aware of the dissatisfaction which would be gxdo rieiiiced at this proposal to force portions of the population into compulsory service . There was no suggestion that tho me . n so forced from their homes were to be enfranchised . ( Hear , hear . ) Oh . no . They were to be the defendera of the country . But they were not to havo the rights of citizenship , nere , then , was a whig government adontinz the principles and tho practice so severely
reprobated in the tory governments of former years ; and if the noble lord persevered in such causes , he ( Mr . Hume ) would tell him that the day was not distant when he would have to 4 , 'ivo way . The noble lord seemed to have forgotten Lord Grey ' s declination , and the approbation which that declaration elicited from the whole people . He ( Mr . Hume ) would take the sense of the house on the question . If he could find a seconder , he would givo the house the opportunity of dividing . Ho would ask what were the fleet of 250 vessels doing , that they could not be employed in the protection of our own coasts ? ( Hear . ) After thirty-seven years of peace they were bound to . hesitate before they adopted hastily exploded principles and proved bad systems . lie would demand that , before they arbitrarily interfered with the civil rights of
the people , they should inquire if their existing naval and military forces could not be better and more efficiently applied . The noble lord no doubt wished peace . But here in this proposal , he directly and palpably insulted a neighbouring power . This militia was anarmanent to preparo against the possibility of a French invasion . But they all knew that the interests of Franco were to be at peace with England ; and in that house the noble lord and all of them had repudiated the statements and the assaults against the present government of France . Yet now the noble lord said that they were in fear , and that they must not attach any credit to the declarations of the French government ( Hear , hear . ) Half of the 30 , 000 men to be called out would be taken from agriculture ; and they should be careful how they thus interfered with the natural arrangements
of society . They were to be drilled for a week at a time . Now no one could believe that that would make them soldiers . It would just suffice to make it extremely dangerous to let them have arms in their hands . ( Great laughter . ) At any rate the noble lord should have proposed to accompany this bill with the concession of the elective franchise to every person serving in the militia ; and if tho bill went forward he ( Mr . Hume ) would take care to move such an amendment . Tho noble lord had referred to steam and to steam-vessels as increasing the risks to this country . But he ( Mr . nume ) was prepared to show steam had been the greatest blessing to us , in point of national defence , and that the power of protecting ourselves had been increased
tenfold by our steam vessels . Certainly , they were running risks at present . They had ten ships in the Tagus to assist the government of Portugal . They had Jfrom twenty to thirty ships in the Mediterranean to keep the Ionian Islands in slavery and in subjugation . They had twentythree ships on the coast of Africa for the purpose of plundering the natives , and , by way of freak , of putting down one man , and putting up another chief . Then they had an enormous army . It was called a small army . But the estimates showed that they supplied clothing to 185 , 000 troops , either in arms , or ready , at a moment ' s notice to take arms ; and why was this vast force ( and it was quite exclusive of our sailors ) not sufficient ? He would take the sense ofthe house on the matter . ( Hear , hear . )
Col . TnoMPSON thought that the country would be glad to hoar that the government was taking precautions in time against the possible proceedings of vain foolish men ; and referred to the recent order of the Prince President to his generals , to hold thomselvos in readiness for the 22 ndit might be to make him Emperor , or it might be to make an attack upon Bolgium . After . some observations from Colonel Sibthorp , Sir H . Verney , and Mr . M . O'Connell , Mr . Cobdrn urged that with a due application of the force we possessed this proposal would be wholly unnecessary . Upwards of twenty millions had been spent in ten years in building and repairing ships , besides three millions for dockyard improvements , and now we were told that we must look to some extraneous force to defend us . While
we heai d this cry of invasion , our enormous fleet , which was basking in the sun in the Mediterranean , had only tho other day been reinforced by the Britannia , of 120 guns . In our own harbours we had ten line-of-battle ships and four frigates , and he supposed they were fit for use . Wo had also ships of war in the WcBt Indies and tho East Indies to protect our commerce from pirates , but what use were lineof-battle ships in following pirates ? There was no fear of a buccaneering expedition against our oolonies , and if government were sincere in their cry of possible invasion , they would show it by ordering home every line-of-battlo ship on a distant station . The noble lord had lectured tho press for the manner in which it had spoken of Louis Kipo-Icon , but ho himself was doing far more than the press in exciting ill will on the part of the French nation when bo called for a force for which he gave no shadow of excuse beyond the necessity of preparing for invasion . There was no argument now , as in 1848 , that Franco was increasing her armaments ; on the contrary , she had disarmed her
National Guard , and in some of the French papers the proprietory of withdrawing some of tho ships from commission was seriously discussed . From a word dropped by Colonel Thompson as to Belgium , he feared there was an idea that we might be drawn into a war by meddling with the affairs of the continent ; but looking , at our experience , and tho expense of the last war in which we engaged on a similar plea , the people of this country would never consent to such unnecessary and costly interference again . Ho believed this measure would be protested against from all parts of the country . He ridiculed thp various hypothesis of invasion that had been put forward , especially that of a sort of buccaneering expedition—a descent of 10 , 000 to 12 , 000 men , as suggested by a writer in the " Unite j Service Journal , " which , he said , if attempted , could only end in the hanging of all engaged in it . Paying , as we did , eight millions a year for our navy , including that part of tho ordnance connected with it , all that was wanted was a proper distribution , so as to give confidence to the timid , and tho calling out of the militia would bo unnecessary .
Lord Palmerston had , in 1846 , and since , urged on government to adopt some measure of this kind for the defence of the country . Ho was as much opposed as any one to our mixing in continental differences , but we had engagements beyond the limits of our own shoves , and circumstances might arise which would render our inteference necessary . France was not the only country which possessed a large fleet and great military power , and should war unfortunately occur , wo could not be sure whioh of them might be found by jealousy to take part against us . Our insular position , while a source of strength on the one hand , was a source of weakness on tho other , by presenting to an onemy so many points of attack . Efficient as our navy undoubtedly was , it would be madness for us to rely solely upon it , and with regard to
fortifications , thoro was none like a bravo and devoted body of men fighting for their own hearths and homes . He did not anticipate war , butto be prepared for it was the best way to avoid it . The habits , feelings , and finances of the country would not permit a large resident regular army , and the mode proposed waB the best , if not the only means , of providing an efficient defensive force . He objected to the omission of Ireland from tho measure , which looked like an insinuation against the loyalty of the Irish people , ¦ w ho , he believed , would be as ready to lose their lives in defence of their sovereign and country , as the peoplo of this country or of Scotland , llo thought the distinction between local and regular militia unwise , preferring the Bame organisation and training by battalions , as under the former militia act .
Mr . F . Maulb said , the question whether the plan of tho regular militia should be adopted had undergone great consideration , and it had been determined that a militia of a local character was preferable . Mr . Newdegatk supported this as a defensive measure . Mr . Roche thought the exclusion of Ireland from the bill would eeem to imply that her population could not be depended upon . Lord J . Russell emphatically disclaimed this implication . There was no want of confidenco in the loyalty of Ireland . Mr . Osborne ooulil not avoid expressing his dissent from some of the opinions to which the lion , member for tho West Riding had given utterance . The hon . member was never more provoking aud aggressive than when he talked about peace —( a laugh)—and in consequence of tho
monomania under which he laboured on this point the country lost tho services of a clever man . The hon member said that he had great confidence in the morality of the French army . The morality of tho French army ! Tho morality of any army ! Did the hon . member derive his confidence from the scenes lately enacted ? Was it from the successful fusillade on tho Boulevards ?—( hear , hear )—or from tho execution done by the artillery in other street 3 where the cannon was fired by Frenchmen on Frenchmen ? Did the hon . member suppose that Generals Espinasso and St . Arnaud would hesitate to attack this country when they had not hesitated to break all laws , human and divine , and placed their own Legislature under arrest ? ( Cheers . )
He could go along with him in so far as regarded tbe Tagus fleet , but he denied that ho was an alarmist or a bad economist , because he maintained that it was the duty ofthe government to look to the necessary defence of the country . ( Hear , hear . ) With . regard to tho militia , he would say this that no foreign power had a right to view it in the light in whioh it had been represented by his hon . friendas a measure of aggression . ( Hear , hear . ) Raising the militia was not a measure of aggression ; us foreign powers knew , it was simply a measure of necessary defence . After further discussi on of a very discursive character the motion was agreed to , and the Chairman obtained leave to bring in tbe bill .
Suitors is Chancery Rbubf Bill . —This Bill was read a second time after a short discussion , in tho course of which the Solicitor-General , j n reply to Sir J Graham , stated that it was wrong to infer from the QbservaUon . 8 of the Lord Chancellor in tho LordB the o . her night , tout the recommendation of the Chancery Reform Committee , in regard to the Masters -office , would not be carried out . Disfranchisemrnt op St . Albans . —Sir G . Grey then moved for leave to bring in a bill to disfranchise the borough of St . Albans . He referred to the proceedings last session with reference to this borough , to the appointment of Commissioners of Inquiry , and to the facts they had reported to her Majesty , showine the laree mm * of monev
which had been expended in bribery , and to the oxtentto which corruption had prevailed there ; the result be , ing , fc > ir George observed , that the evil was so engrained In that borough that there was no other remedy than disfranchisemeat ,
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Sir De . Lacy Evans withdrew his amendment to include the borough of Harwich in the bill , intending to move that no writ be issued to that borough for ten days , to give time for tbe appointment of a Committee of Inquiry . Mr . Baoshaw said that no one doubted that tip to 1841 the greatest possible corruption did exist nt the elections for the borough of Harwich ; but he emphatically denied that anything of the sort had taken place since that timp . ( A laugh . ) Could anything show it more than the circumstance of Sir J . Uobhouse having been nominated for tho borough , and bein ? returned for it without having evor seen the place ? ( Laughter . ) Mr . Roebuck wanted to preclude a sham . There could be no doubt that downri / rhfc corruption existed at Harwich- , out tho point was , that tho house shoulil keep in mind that "w e was no real difference between the corruption of the r ° l . J Vi Perhaps icnorant voter , who sold his own voto
' , iJi * ° ? . and the wholesale corruption of the rich pro-K ' 1 ? 80 ld llis nomination borough for ^ 2 , 000-htter % n » " V " exce P > indeed . tliat the criminality ofthe HetrnZ ?^ 8 the country was far tho greater of tbe two . oroww « f ^ at thU point w ° « ' « not bo lost sight of in the notnermitfi , Refo ' Bill , and that the house would be Eoaco ^ i ^ ° disfranchi 3 ing a corrH P boron * » th rioh n « wf ° ° llundred men did "' ere in small what o ? n" ! le ^ ounr , - 0 r v 00 mmoiier did in lar S - and on his nomination wii hlS nGt «^ tion trough , and let the notninntion hpronghs escape . ( Hear huar- \ opSe VhSaT W ? to l ^ wwhetier gentlemen ? o al who « a , ™ a v , rror of "orrnption in relation to al wno sat on tho benches onnoMtn tn « , « , « , k ~ a - >* n
nearuoi Mr . Uoppock— ( hear wi a . ' . "r , tive member of theReform luMnl ^ rt " ^ « ^ ever a new writ wa 8 moved , w . ^ 25 ^ torefcr i ' sSal train to the vacant borough , for purposes wZ-l / tlK Albans evidence fully developed . ( Hoar LI- He Lid bo glad to know whether the virtuously iCtenkU memS ™ of the Reform Club had ever , individuall y w coilccK ? taken any steps to put a stop to the-operations which Mr Coppock had notoriously been engaged in for the last fifteen years ? ( Hear , hear ) Mr . Roebuck said h \ for one , had had nothing to do with Mr . Coppook in any of his elections , and that Mr . Coppock would never have dared to come where he was a candidate , pretending to be on bis side , ¦ Lord C . Hamilton . —Is not tho hon , and learned gentleman a member of the Reform Club ? Mr . Roebuck . -. Yes , I am ; but I never go there . ( A laugh . )
Mr . Spooner having read Mr . Coppock ' s evidence , in extenso , as to ^ the general bribery and corruption in . boroughs , asked tbe government point blank whether they believed ill Sir G . GitBTdid not know what other answer he could give than he had already given . Mr , Bell had desired , on various occasions when this unfortunate matter —( a laugh ) -had been before the house , to take part in tho'debate , but' he had always been dissuaded by some person or other , so that for the last fifteen months he had had an incubus hanging over him , which he had had no opportunit ^ of explaining away . ( Laughter . ) The course he had taken had been ' misunderstood , and he had been supposed either indifferent on the matter or unable to afford a satisfactory explanation of his conduct . Just now
, again , when about to offer some remarks to tho House , it had been suggested to him to hold his tongue- ( a laugh )—but he was determined now to act upon his own judgment , and to take his own course . ( ' Hear , hear / ' and a laugh . ) Before he said anything about tho borough of St . Albans , ho wished in some degree , at all events , to clear himself from the extreme severity of the accusations which had pressed upon him , and from the imputation that it was with , his eyes open he had plunged into the affair , and knowing all the circumstances of the case before him . ( A laugh . ) It was all very easy for gentlemen , looking for it on ground all the details of which had been by close research mapped out , to point out what should have been avoided , and whero the difficulties and dangers lay , but he had had no such advantage when he set out in the matter . ( A laugh , } Itwa 3
perfectly clear that he had committed one grave error , and that was in going down to St . Albans at all . ( Great laughter . ) But how was he to have known that tho belief on which he had been led to act was a fallacy ? ( Laughter . ) Was there not ground for him to suppose that in going down he should not bo opposed , seeing that the three parties in the borough had each , through its representative , requested him to go down ? ( Laughter . ) In his ignorance ofthe borough and of the politics of the people there , when he found all tbreB parties saying they were willing to support him , surely it was not for him to suppose that any disputes . about secondary matters —( laughter)—would set any of those parties against him when he had got down amongst ihem . ( Laughter . ) Having once embarked on tho battle field , having pledged himself to go to the noil
having canvassed tho electors vigorously in order to secure a position as ' soon as possible —( laughter )— -it was too late for him to retreat ; there was no opportunity of retracing his steps , or of extricating himself from the dilemma in which he fouud himself , lie must confess , he had not been long in the borough before some very strong suspicions came into his head —( laughter )—but then he had not conceived it to be his duty to ferret out all tho details of the proceedings . ( Great laughter . ) He understood that it was not usual for candidates to dive into every act of every agent who might be employed —( laughter )—but that it was simply the business of the candidate to canvass the constituency , in ordor to ensure his election ; and this was the course which he took . ( Laughter . ) He had einco found himself to have been sadly deceived in various respects .
For instance , there were electors who had questioned him and cross-questioned him for half an hour together , and when the electors so questioned him had gono away as his supporters , he had imagined that he had done it all by his arguments —( laughter)—whereas it hail transpired in evidence thai these parties had been corrupted , and had merely interrogated him and argued with him in order to keep him in the dark as to their proceedings . ( Great laughter . ) There was one particular consideration which had made him not a free agent , though he might have had strong suspicions that something improper was going on —( laughter )—that he was in the field and occupying a place which would otherwise have been occupied by another individual belonging to his party , to the Liberal party—( laughter)—and he was told he was responsible for the
principles on which he went down , that was to say , Liberal principles —( laughter)—and he could not , therefore , back out , even had he been so disposed . ( Laughter . ) lie might mention that when ho spoke of going down to St . Albans on the principles of " a party , " ho was not alluding to tho government , for the report that ho had pone down as the government candidate had no foundation in fact , and it was right that he should take that opportunity of contradicting it . He fully exonerated the government from any participation whatever in the transaction , and in fact , it was tho government that had been pursuing him from tho period of the election to the present time . Moreover , it was they who were bringing in a bill to disfranchise the borough , and from that and every other circumstanoe , he exonerated them from having any participation whatever in his
election . ( Laughter . ) Mr . Bell then proceeded to argue against the disfranchisrment of the borough . He felt in a rather responsible and delicate position—first , as the representative of the borough , and , secondly , as having a case to defend / for which it was impossible to offer a defence . ( Renewed laughter . ) But still , that being tbe case , he thought that the only course which he ought to pursue was to point out the injustice of carrying to such an extreme a measure with reference to one single borough , whon it had been proved before the commission at St . Albans that tho same system generally prevailed in a great many other boroughs throughout tho kingdom . A few days ago he had gone over the House of Correction—( loud laughter )—and ho saw there 150 prisoners . lie knew at tho same time that there were about 40 , 000 outside as bad as those who were
in , but rather more cunning . Now , if those 40 , 000 were to hold a meeting , and to pass a resolution that , forthesako of making themselves stand well with the public , they should hang those 150 who happened to bo in tho prison , then , he conceived , that tho .-e 40 , 000 would be taking a course similar to that which the house was taking in disfranchising St . Albans , and loaving all the other boroughs of the kingdom as they were . ( Laughter and cheers . ) Ho begged to say that at the time of the election he was not aware of tho amount that was being expended , and even if he had , comparing it with the amounts which ho constantly heard spoken of , there was nothing extraordinary in it . llo had heard it said , " Here is an hon . member who paid £ 00 , 000 for his election , " and " Here is another who paid £ 50 , 000 , " and another he had himself heard state that his
election had cost him £ 40 , 000 , while they all knew that elections costing from £ 5 , 000 to £ 10 , 000 were as plentiful as blackberries . Now , he had had the excitement of an election , the luxury of a petition , and the further indulgence of a commission , and the sum total of his expenses had not exceeded £ 4 , 300 . ( Cheers and laughter . ) Under those circumstances , ho thought it was unfair to charge him with any extraordinary extravagance- ; and hon . members who knew what elections were ought to know better than to be so exceedingly Bevere on St . Albans . ( Laughter . ) It certainly appeared remarkably corrupt for a person to pay a sum of monov for his election , but they found
others , who instead of paying a sum down , spread it over seven years , arcd at the end of that time walked over the course and entered the house perfect patterns of purity . What difference , he asked , was there in principle between these two cases ? ( Hear , hear . ) If an agent at an election ; treated an elector with a mutton-chop and a glass of ale , he was liable to a penalty , and the momlier might be nn « seated ; but if a member of Parliament , during the period of the Exhibition , for example , issued cards to all the electors inviting them to his mansion in town to enjoy bis hospitality , even though it wore in anticipation of an election , that was perfect purity and perfect hosp itality . ( Dear , hear . )
. .. After a few words from Colonel Sibthorp and Mr . A N ^ TRV Mr . Ripton , the other membor for St . Albans , said that though he had resisted it as muuh as possible , he was convinced that bribery had been exercised on ins behalf , and that he had paid bis election bills ns debts of honour . At the same time he stated both pu blicly and privately thaUo never again would becomo B candidate for gt , Allans . ( Hear , near . ) Mr . G . Tuompsok did not feel that they should bo doing
strict justice in the present instaiice if they were to censure Mr Coppook , and vi ere to leave out of consideration the many other individuals who for years , as was known to hon . members on both sides of the house , had been engaged ia practices precisely similar to those in which Mr . Coppocfc , on his own confession , had been concerned . ( Hoar . ) As a member of the Reform Club for many years , he was prepared to say that a very large proportion of the membtrs of that association were totally unconnected with Mr . Coppock and his proceedings , and he was convinced that the revelations made at St . Albans were perfeMly new to many
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February 21 ,, 1851 fHE NQHTHERN STAR i * fc - y "¦; / ' A — ¦ - - ' " - - - .-.. ¦¦ ¦ """" ' " " | V' * ' ' ' " '' . " . " _ i ___^ ' ' " I ,, .- — -.- . ^ *
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 21, 1852, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1666/page/7/
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