and, whether he will cause the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown to be taken on the point? ORDERS OF THE DAY. SUPPLY.-COMMITTEE. Order for Committee read. BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: Mr. Speaker, I rise to move, Sir, that you do now leave the Chair; not, of course, for the purpose of making any progress with the business of Supply, there being no Notice down; but I think it may be for the convenience of the House that I should take this oppor MR. SCLATER-BOOTH: Sir, my attention has been drawn to the doubt referred to by my hon. Friend, and which has in some few instances been expressed, and my answer has been that I am quite unable to concur in the doubt. The question has arisen, I think, from looking exclusively to Section 13 of the Act; but, if the contention were tenable, not only would Section 15-one of the most important provisions of the Act-be altogether inoperative, but effect could not be given to Section 18, which requires highway authorities to keep an account of the cost of maintain-tunity to offer a few observations upon ing main roads without any exception, and enables the county authority to withhold their contributions, not in the case of disturnpiked roads only, but of main roads generally. As regards the opinion of the Law Officers, it is the practice to resort to them for advice only in cases where the Department entertain doubt, or the matter concerns their own administration, both of which conditions are absent in the present case; and as the matter concerns the powers and duties of the magistrates, it would rather seem to be for my hon. Friend, or for Justices, if they entertain any doubts, than for me, to submit a case to the Law Officers. ELECTIONS. MR. SPEAKER acquainted the House that, in pursuance of the directions of the Acts passed in the 24th year of the reign of His Majesty King George the Third, c. 26, and in the 21st and 22nd years of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, c. 110, and in the 26th year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, c. 20, he has issued Warrants to the Clerk of the Crown to make out New Writs for the Election of Members to serve in this present Parliament For Norfolk County (Northern Division), v. Colonel James Duff, deceased; for Cambridge County, v. Honble. Eliot Constantine Yorke, deceased. the position of Business, and upon other matters such as are usually referred to at the beginning of a Session. The circumstances of the present Session have been exceptional. At the time that we met in December it was not thought necessary, or, at all events, desirable, if it was even possible, to introduce many measures to the notice of the House, the House being met for one object alone, and the observations which usually are made at the commencement of the Session were then deferred to the present time. I will, therefore, take the opportunity of moving that you leave the Chair to state what the Business is which we propose to call the attention of the House to during the present Session. But before I do so, there are necessarily one or two matters of exceptional and external interest on which I ought to say a few words; and the House will, I am sure, anticipate that the first subject upon which I must touch is one of a melancholy character, which has already been before our notice this evening, and which engages at this moment the first attention of the country-I mean the serious military misfortune which we have met with in South Africa. Sir, I am quite sure it is far from the wish of anyone either unduly to exaggerate, or unduly to depreciate, what has there occurred; but we cannot help feeling the great sorrow which has been caused, the great blow which we have received, and above all things we cannot avoid feeling and expressing our sorrow at the severe loss we have sus And also a Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown in Ireland to make out a New Writ for the Election of a Member to serve in this present Parliament-tained in the death of those men who For Cork County, v. Timothy M'Carthy have so gallantly maintained the honour Downing, esquire, deceased. of the Army. I am quite sure that there is but one feeling throughout the country | the hands of Members, we shall be of admiration for the gallantry with better placed than at the present moment which those men and officers behaved, to consider our position, and to decide as so far as we are able to know, in the to what steps it will be necessary to closing scene of their lives, for the take. But I may say, Sir, even beforemanner in which they sustained the hand, that I am perfectly conscious that honour of the Army to which they were it will be necessary for me to make some proud to belong, and that there is but proposal to the House with reference to one universal feeling of sympathy for the expenses which these necessary meathose who have been sufferers by the sures have occasioned. I only desire bereavement. But, Sir, I also feel that that I may be in a position to give a there is in the British character a readi- full account, and to take a complete ness, upon all occasions such as this, to view of, the circumstances before I am rise with all the more spirit from any called upon to go into details on that calamity that has been sustained, and subject. Turning from this darker page that the impulse of which we are of what we have to state to the House, conscious is a resolution to repair and I am happy to be able to congratulate wipe out any blow of this kind that the House and the country upon the seems to have been received. No time more satisfactory state of affairs in has been lost in taking the first measures other parts of the world. If we look that are necessary for that end. A especially to our foreign relations, and very considerable force has already been consider how the arrangements conseordered to sail for South Africa. That quent upon the Treaty of Berlin are proforce is being rapidly brought together. ceeding, we see that there is every reason The transports which are to take it out to be satisfied with the progress that is have been already engaged, and in the being made. There is, no doubt, a course of next week, probably before natural impatience in the minds of all this day week, the first of them will men to see things proceed with an have sailed. No time will be lost in almost impossible rapidity; but when hastening forward the detachments which we consider how many interests have are to be sent. Having said so much, I been involved, and how much there has hope that I may appeal to the House to been to arrange-how many have been abstain for the moment from making any the difficulties to be overcome-I think, conjectural comments upon circumstances when we look back and take stock of as to which we are as yet very imper- what has passed in the six months or fectly informed. We have received a whatever may be the time since the telegraphic communication of the bare conclusion of the Treaty, we have no fact only, and it must be several days- reason at all to be dissatisfied with the it cannot be till next week-before we real and satisfactory progress that has can receive any detailed account of what been made. The exchanges of territory has happened. I think we must all be which were provided for in Asia have aware that justice and every other con- been accomplished. The exchanges on sideration requires that we should sus- the Frontier of Montenegro have also pend our judgment upon what has hap- been accomplished. Both those were pened until we have a full and complete matters which were subjects at one time account of it. With regard to the of anxiety. The occupation of Bosnia general policy of the war I would say by the Austrian forces has also been much the same thing. Papers have al- accomplished. The supplementary Treaty ready been laid upon the Table which which the Porte and Russia had been bring the account of what has taken engaged in negotiating has been signed, place up to the 30th or 31st of December, and the Russian Army has now begun and further Papers are now in the to withdraw from Turkish territory; and printers' hands, and will be distributed we have no doubt that the evacuation of on Saturday or at latest on Monday, Turkish territory will be very speedily which will bring the Correspondence and peaceably completed. I think we down to the end of January. Of course, may, without going into disputed quesstill further Papers will be given as soon tions, fairly take this opportunity of exas possible. I think that when we re- pressing the sense which certainly Her ceive the full accounts of what has Majesty's Government feel, and I hope taken place, and those Papers are in the House and the public will feel, of the very great energy, the very great | sent time, I hope, enter into any long skill, the very great temper and patience discussion, as I have Friends on these with which Sir Henry Layard has ful- Benches who will be able to speak from filled his duty in these difficult and personal knowledge of what they have critical circumstances. The House, I seen and what they know of the Island; am sure, will hear with regret, though but I think it may be of interest to the hardly with surprise, that Sir Henry House to know that the question which Layard's health has suffered not a little has given some trouble, as to the effect from the long strain and the great of the reservation of the land rights of anxiety which have been put upon him for the Porte under the 4th Article of the the past few months, and that he will be Treaty, has been settled. All the land obliged to take a short respite from rights and claims of the Porte, including work to improve his health. We hope, claims on waste lands, and all questions however, that matters have now arrived affecting the land, have been settled and at that point that he can be spared from commuted for a payment of £5,000 his post for a short time without any a-year. That payment is in addition to inconvenience to the Public Service. what has been ascertained to be the Other matters besides those which I surplus due to the Porte on the basis of have already mentioned have also been the excess of revenue over expenditure. satisfactorily in progress. A scheme of I am unable to say what precisely that pacification has been adopted in Crete, surplus may be found to be; but we are which appears to have given satisfaction in a position to say that the sums which to all parties; and negotiations in pur- have been named-£120,000 or £130,000 suance of the stipulations and Protocols a-year-are exaggerated, and that the of the Treaty of Berlin have been set amount will be much lower-£100,000, on foot between the Porte and the King- or a few thousands more. I believe, dom of Greece. With regard to Asia, when the Budget of Cyprus comes to be there has not been any slackness in considered, it will show this to be apursuing the Correspondence which was satisfactory and hopeful settlement. opened, as was mentioned, some time With regard to another question which ago, on the subject of Asiatic reform. I was under consideration when the House believe that there has been some unrea- met in December, I hope we are now in sonable impatience on the part of some a position to deserve congratulation. persons in this country with regard to The objects of the expedition which the reforms in Asia; but then it must be was then under consideration appear considered that those reforms have had now to have been accomplished, and a to be entertained and begun by a Go- satisfactory arrangement may now be vernment whose territory is occupied by made for the future protection and trana large foreign army of some 200,000 quillity of the North-West Frontier of or 300,000 men, and whose attention India without destroying the independhas naturally been attracted by matters ence of Afghanistan. Turning from of a very different character. I doubt these matters to the condition of the whether there have ever been any in- country, I do not think it necessary to stances of a country having effected re- enter into any details; but it would be forms under such pressure as that. But, improper and indecent, on such an occaat the same time, I may say that there sion as this, not to express the sincere rehas been manifested on the part of the gret which we all feel for the serious disPorte a sincere desire to proceed with tress which has prevailed in some parts of reforms. Some of the appointments the country; and I hope that the time has which have been made-notably that come for improvement, as the change in of Midhat Pasha-have indicated the the weather and other circumstances earnestness with which the Porte is pro- may serve to mitigate the distress. [Opceeding; and arrangements for carrying position cheers.] I think you will admit out the objects in view are now under that the winter has been exceedingly discussion which I believe will be found severe-[Laughter from the Opposition]adequate and satisfactory. Then there by which it has been rendered difficult is another matter which has excited at- for many persons to obtain employment. tention, and that is the position of the This may be a subject for the laughter Island of Cyprus. In regard to the of hon. Gentlemen on the other side of Island of Cyprus, I need not at the pre- the House, but it is not so regarded by us, and especially by the people of those | alter the whole system of our Mutiny towns in which the distress has prevailed. Legislation, and to withdraw from ParIn many of the communications which liament the annual supervision and we have received stress has been laid control of the Army. Such an insane upon the additional suffering caused by idea has never entered into our minds. the severity of the weather, which has Even hon. Gentlemen opposite could rendered it impossible for many people never have imagined that we intended to obtain employment. I can only again to introduce so sweeping a change. express my hope that matters will tend The next measure which we wish to to improvement. Before leaving this mention is the Criminal Code, which has subject, however, I think it would hardly also been the subject of very careful rebe graceful not to acknowledge the very vision by very competent and high great liberality and self-sacrifice with authorities; and we hope that it will be which so many persons during the dis- presented this Session in a form which tress in their districts came forward in will enable the House to deal with it order to relieve the sufferings of those and pass it immediately. There will be among whom they lived. I am happy a measure for the amendment of the to say that the benevolence of the people Bankruptcy Laws, which I think will be of England has never yet been appealed introduced in the other House of Parto in vain. Not only has the relief been liament. My right hon. Friend the liberal, but, so far as we have been able Home Secretary will re-introduce a meato judge, the relief given has been very sure, of which he has had charge, for wisely and judiciously distributed. I amending the Summary Jurisdiction of have nothing more that I need trouble Magistrates. Then there is another the House with, except to mention the subject which urgently requires attensubjects which will be brought forward tion in this House, because the powers in the present Session. The subjects of the Railway Commissioners will which appear to be of the highest im- expire during this Session; and it portance are these-There will, in the is, therefore, necessary to introduce first place, be a necessity for proceed- some measure which will deal with ing with the Mutiny Bill, which, as those powers. We propose to introduce the House is aware, is in a peculiar a measure for establishing County position. The Mutiny Bills of past Boards in England, and for amending years have been frequently altered and the Grand Jury Law in Ireland. There patched; nevertheless, considerable por- is also to be a Valuation Bill, and there tions of the legislation have been of an will be a Bill for the amendment of the obsolete character of a very early date, Poor Law of Scotland. In mentioning and it has been found desirable that it these measures in detail, I wish, at the should be revised. I need not go back same time, to say that there are many upon what has occurred in past Ses- other measures we have in hand, some sions, but I think it only right of which will demand special attention. that we should give some expres-I gave a pledge last Session, which I sion of acknowledgment to the Committee and especially to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Oxford (Sir William Harcourt)—which sat last Session upon this subject, and under whose guidance great progress has been made in the work of reform, for their labours upon it. Their recommendations have led us to substitute what will practically be a new Military Code-for that is what our suggestion will really amount to-and that Military Code will be submitted to the House, and will require careful consideration. And here may take the opportunity of correct-time goes on, we propose to introduce; ing a mistake that has got wind in some quarters in reference to this question. It has been assumed that we intend to I have not forgotten, that the Corrupt Practices Act should be dealt with early in this Session, and I have stated to my hon. Friend behind me (Mr. Coope) that we should have to introduce some measure with regard to Banks. There is a measure upon the relations of Employers and Workmen which will also be introduced when ready; and amongst others I may mention one measure of a financial character, in which I myself am interested, for dealing with the question of Public Works Loans. There are also other measures which, as but I need not trouble the House with them now, and will only say what is the order of Business which we at present Next to the unfortunate event which had occurred in South Africa, the subject that was the uppermost in the public mind, and which he (Sir Charles W. Dilke) chiefly rose to address the House upon, was the distress that prevailed throughout the country. The language of the right hon. Gentleman in referring to the latter question was, perhaps, scarcely adequate to the occasion. The right hon. Gentleman had stated that that distress had been occasioned by the late frost. ["Oh!"] THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER explained that he had remarked that the distress had probably been aggravated by the frost. contemplate. To-night I will give No-, rise. Motion made, and Question proposed, "That Mr Speaker do now leave the Chair." (Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer.) SIR CHARLES W. DILKE said, he could recollect no precedent for the most unusual course which had been adopted by the right hon. Gentleman on the present occasion. In 1867, when there was an Autumn Session, the whole of the Bills were brought forward in the Queen's Speech; and, as regarded 1868, there was a Queen's Speech made on the re-assembling of the House in February 1869. Perhaps it would be convenient that the most responsible Members of the Opposition should refrain from addressing the House until towards the close of the debate to which it was likely the speech of the right hon. Gentleman would give SIR CHARLES W. DILKE feared that the distress was more widely spread in the Northern centres of industry than the right hon. Gentleman appeared to think; and he could not share in the sanguine view taken by the right hon. Gentleman that it was decreasing. He would only tell the right hon. Gentleman that those who represented the great centres of industry were not of the opinion which he understood the right hon. Gentleman to express. They thought that not only was the present distress more generally spread over the country than had been the case for many years, but that it was rather increasing than diminishing. He could not understand the principle upon which the right hon. Gentleman had constructed the list of Bills which he had mentioned; for after reading out a catalogue of nine measures he went on to refer to others which were more important than those which he He (Sir Charles W. Dilke) supposed that it was intended had first mentioned. that these nine Bills should be those to which the attention of the House should first be directed. With regard to these measures, he would only say that Scotland and Ireland came out somewhat badly. There was only one measure relating to each country, and neither of them was of first-class importance. He had not been in the secret of the negotiations of which they had heard with regard to Irish University Education; but he supposed that these negotiations had broken down, as no result had come from them. It was possible, however, that a surprise might be sprung upon them at the last moment. The Bills relating to Corrupt Practices and to the Liability of Employers for Injuries to |