from these indications, he thought he was justified in complaining that there was in the Speech from the Throne the merest general indication on the part of the Government of their intention probably to deal with that serious state of affairs.

Address agreed to, nemine dissenliente, and ordered to be presented to Her Majesty by the Lords with White

Staves.

CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES.

The Earl of REDESDALE appointed,

Session.

COMMITTEE FOR

PRIVILEGES

Ap

pointed.

lieved that county government was much desired by a large and important class in Ireland, and that no time should be lost in introducing a measure for the purpose. A very remarkable letter appeared in The Times some time ago from Mr. Clifford Lloyd with regard to the remedies which should be adopted in Ireland. He contended, in that communication, that the grievances of the country were due-first, to the exclusion of the people from any share in the management of their affairs; and, secondly, to the continuation in Dublin of a centralized Government, alleged to be out of touch with the Imperial Par-nemine dissentiente, to take the Chair in liament, the British Cabinet, and the all Committees of this House for this Irish people alike. Mr. Lloyd went on to express an opinion that the creation of elective County Boards, with powers of taxation, would afford a basis giving ample scope for the growth of political life. He (the Earl of Leitrim) believed with the writer that in that direction it was possible to mitigate some of the evils that existed in Ireland; and, further, that it was quite within the natural aspirations of the Irish people that they should be able to control their local affairs in the counties, and manage that taxation which they were called upon to pay. In connection with that there must come, undoubtedly, the abolition of the Viceroyalty, which was quite out of date and out of consonance with the feelings of the country, both high and low. While ready to grant Her Majesty's Government any powers that might be necessary for repressing crime, and bringing Ireland to a better state, it was, to his mind, imperatively necessary that a measure of local should be introduced,

government

LORD WAVENEY said, that there was no doubt that crime and outrage was increasing in Ireland at a rate of which few of their Lordships had any

conception. He was accustomed to watch the rise and fall of the tide; and he asserted that in the past month the greater part of Ireland had gone back a whole year in its neglect of duty. It was for the Government to say whether that state of things should continue. They might judge how matters were when they found that in Ulster Liberals and Conservatives had been brought to act together; and in his opinion it would be well if this truce of Parties were not only maintained, but extended. Judging

The Earl of Leitrim

SUB-COMMITTEE FOR THE JOURNALSAppointed.

APPEAL COMMITTEE-Appointed.

RECEIVERS AND TRYERS OF PETITIONS -Appointed.

SCOTLAND-ELECTION OF REPRE-
SENTATIVE PEERS.-MINUTES

OF MEETING.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR acquainted the House that the Clerk of the Parliaments had received (by post) from the Lord Clerk Register of Scotland, the minutes of the meeting held on the 10th of December last of the Peers of Scotland for the election of their representatives to sit and vote in the ensuing Parliament of the United Kingdom; and also, Return by the Lord Clerk Register of Scotland concerning Titles of Peerages called at the said meeting, in right of which respectively no vote had been received and counted

for fifty years last past as at the date of the said meeting: The same was ordered to lie on the Table.

PARISH CHURCHES BILL [HI.L.]

A Bill to declare and enact the law as to the rights of parishioners in respect of their parish churches-Was presented by The Lord Bishop of PETERBOROUGH; read 1a. (No. 5.)

House adjourned at Eight o'clock, till to-morrow, a quarter past Four o'clock.

The House met at half after One of E. Dwyer Gray, esquire, returned as a the clock.

by Her Majesty for the present relief of these classes, and especially for affording facilities to the agricultural labourers and others in the rural districts to obtain allotments and small holdings on equitable terms as to rent and sccurity of tenure."

MR. J. W. BARCLAY gave Notice that he would move an Amendment to the Address

To insert, after the word "Agriculture," in the 10th paragraph, the words "and humbly to represent the pressing necessity for securing without delay to the cultivators of the soil such conditions of tenure as will aid and encourage them to meet the new and trying circumstances in which the Agriculture of the Country is placed."

MR. HUNTER gave Notice that he would move an Amendment to the Address

At end of the 5th paragraph, add-" But this House humbly expresses to Her Majesty their regret that the Revenues of India have been applied to defray the expenses of the military operations carried on in the Kingdom of Ava, without the consent of Parliament as required by The Government of India Act, 1858.'"

6

NEW WRITS ISSUED.

For Carlow County, v. Edmond Dwyer Gray, esquire, who, having been returned as a Member for the said County of Carlow, and also for the Borough of Dublin (St. Stephen's Green Division), hath elected to sit for the Borough of Dublin (St. Stephen's Green Division).

For Monaghan County (Northern Division), v. Timothy M. Healy, esquire, who, having been returned as a Member for the said County of Monaghan (Northern Division), and also for the County of Derry (Southern Division), hath elected to sit for the County of Derry (Southern Division).

THE QUEEN'S SPEECH.

MR. SPEAKER reported Her Majesty's Speech, made by Her Chancellor, and read it to the House.

ADDRESS IN ANSWER TO HER MAJESTY'S MOST GRACIOUS SPEECH.

[FIRST NIGHT.]

VISCOUNT CURZON (who wore the uniform of a Yeomanry officer) said: Mr. Speaker, in rising to move the Address in reply to the Gracious Speech from the Throne, I trust that I may obtain the forbearance and the indulgence that are invariably granted to a new Member who endeavours to dis

Mr. Jesse Collings

charge the honourable duty which has fallen to my lot this day.

In the course of the Speech which has just been read to the House, it will be noticed that the early paragraphs of it contain reference to foreign affairs. Members will be pleased to hear that In the first place, I feel sure that hon. the great differences which divided the Governments of England and Russia for some time have been settled, and that an adjustment of those differences has been arrived at, through the honourable concession by Russia of certain territory on the boundary of Afghanistan, important to the Ameer, but which was at that time in the occupation of Russian troops, and the possession of which had been guaranteed to the Ameer by the late Government. At the same time, I would draw attention to the firmness of the Marquess of Salisbury in pressing for what was right and fair, and for what he thought this country had a just claim to. The Marquess of Salisbury, when he took Office, was bound to recognize everything in regard to which the word of England was pledged. He loyally accepted the situation, and made the best out of it that he could. Since that time it is highly satisfactory to know that the demarcation of the frontier had been proceeded with in a friendly spirit until winter stopped all operations for a time. The most cordial relations have existed between the English and the Russian Commissioners, and I feel convinced that the House will willingly re-echo Her Majesty's hopes that the peace which has been established in Asia will be long continued.

Secondly, with regard to Eastern Roumelia, the features of the rising there, as hon. Members will recollect, were, primarily, its unanimity, and, secondly, that no bloodshed attended it. It appears to have been practically the unanimous expression of a desire on the part of the people of that country to incorporate their Kingdom with that of Bulgaria. I need not remind hon. Members that circumstances have very much changed since the Treaty of Berlin. There seems to have been a unanimous desire on the part of the inhabitants of Eastern Roumelia that the arrangements made by that Treaty affecting them should be re-opened. After the outbreak of last October, it will be

understood, I think, that it would have | defer any discussion upon the subject been perfectly impossible, even if any- until hon. Members have had time to one had desired it, to return to the read the somewhat bulky Blue Book status quo ante without the use of force, which has been placed on the Table of which must have led to great disturbance the House to-day. In parting with the and bloodshed, and possibly to grave subject I would merely draw attention embarrassment. I think that we must to the fact that the conduct of Her Maall lament the attack-nay, more, the jesty's Government has been patient and fratricidal struggle-initiated by Servia tolerant to the last degree towards the on Bulgaria, and I feel equally confident King of Burmah ever since his accession. that we must deprecate any similar Although it cannot possibly be a matter wanton proceeding on the part of for unmixed congratulation that the Greece. The fate of the Servian attack cares and anxieties of the Indian Gowill, I trust, act as a warning to that vernment should be still further added nationality, which has ever had a large to, nevertheless the duty of the Governshare of English sympathy. May I also ment in protecting the lives and probe permitted to add that I am glad Her perty of British subjects and the honour Majesty's Government have recognized and credit of the Empire, have been so the necessity of maintaining the rights systematically violated by the Burmese of the Sultan. So far from the integrity Government, that, in my opinion, Her of the Ottoman Empire being an ex- Majesty's Government were left no ploded doctrine, I very humbly submit choice other than the action which they to the House that there is a general and have taken. I feel certain, Sir, that the growing opinion amongst nearly all the House and the country generally will Great Powers of Europe that on the willingly and heartily re-echo the gramaintenance of that integrity rests the cious sentiments expressed by Her Mabest chance of the peace of Europe jesty the Queen with regard to the being secured. valour of the troops in Burmah. more the soldiers of the Queen have shown what they can do; and I feel that the gallantry and effectiveness displayed by all ranks of the Army in Burmah are worthy of the unanimous approbation of the House and the country.

The House will observe with satisfaction that a very considerable amount of success has attended the Mission of Sir Henry Drummond Wolff to Constantinople and Egypt. I feel sure it must be a matter of regret to many hon. Members on both sides that the House has not the advantage of his presence. It will, however, be no matter of surprise to those who are well acquainted with his intimate knowledge of the East, and his experience of diplomacy, to know that he has been able to secure the effective co-operation of the Sultan in the difficult task of restoring order in Egypt, where for the last four years there has been so much disorder and so much anxiety, financial and otherwise. In connection with this matter the House will probably be justified in commencing to entertain reasonable hopes that in the course of time England may look forward to being relieved of the burden and responsibility which are now entailed on her by her occupation of that country.

With regard to the paragraph in the Gracious Speech of Her Majesty announcing the Burmese War and the annexation of that country to the British Empire, I feel that very probably it would be well that the House should

Once

Passing on to the consideration of Home affairs, it will be noticed that the reform of Local Government occupies a prominent place in the Royal Speech. Representing, as I do, one of the divisions of an ancient and historic county, I am the more sensible that the time has now come when considerable changes are desired in the method of transacting county business by a great majority of the people. I feel that until thoroughly representative Local Bodies are formed in the localities it will be useless to expect that any sound and satisfactory reforms can take place in the incidence of local taxation.

With regard to the announcement of the Government that it is their intention to deal with the system of the transfer of land, I am very glad indeed that Her Majesty's Ministers have fulfilled their promises; because I cannot but think that an easy and cheap transfer of land would largely increase the number of freeholders, and relieve the owners of land from many charges which now fall [First Night.]