He

Motion agreed to.

Bill read a second time, and committed for Wednesday, 11th March.

to prove a useful measure by extinguish- | himself were, of course, obliged to give ing sources of discord; though he might way. wish for one more extensive in scope. trusted that the clergy would not be misled by the views of the right hon. Member for Oxfordshire, or be influenced by the chimera he had conjured up in regard to the Court of Chancery. In all those parishes which were blessed with a faithful ministry the clergy would, he believed, find themselves effectually supported under the provisions of that Bill. He felt sure the Bill of the right hon. Gentleman would work satisfactorily.

HABEAS CORPUS SUSPENSION (IRE-
LAND) ACT CONTINUANCE BILL.
(The Earl of Mayo, Mr. Secretary Gathorne
Hardy, Mr. Attorney General.)
[BILL 28.] THIRD READING.
Order for Third Reading read.

Motion made and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read the third time."

MR. MAGUIRE said, that the statement be made on the previous evening in reference to the case of the prisoner Matthew Lynch, who died in Mountjoy prison, was founded upon the information of a citizen of Dublin who had sent him a copy of the Freeman's Journal containing a communication on the subject. He hoped that the case would receive proper attention, and that the Government would place on the table of the House the

MR. WALROND was rejoiced to find that the Government would not assist those hon. Members who had spoken against that Bill in pressing for a division upon its second reading. No charge upon property could carry with it a stronger prescriptive claim than church rates; but there was a time, when yielding to the conscientious convictions of one's opponent was a wise policy, and he thought that time had now arrived in regard to that question, and he trusted, from the general tone and the temper of the House, that no serious opposition would be offered to the passing of that measure. He believed that both Noncon-notes of the Coroner, and also the report of formists and Churchmen had many objects of social importance in which they felt a common interest, but upon which they could not act well together if the bar which at present existed were allowed to continue between the two bodies. If it were removed, they might then have that united harmony of action which would be of so much advantage to the country. Under these circum-able man-to it, was that no sanction should stances, he cordially wished success to the measure of the right hon. Member for South Lancashire.

MR. SERJEANT GASELEE was of opinion that they ought to get rid of church rates altogether, regretted that that Bill had met with so much sanction on both sides of the House. For the very reason which induced the noble Lord the Member for Stamford (Viscount Cranborne) to agree to the measure, he was inclined to disagree with it. He wanted the total abolition of

church rates; and believed that if the pressure hitherto applied to hon. Gentlemen opposite for that object had been vigorously continued, hon. Gentlemen opposite would have yielded on that question in as graceful a manner as they had done in regard to Parliamentary Reform; but when the Leaders on both sides united, as they fre. quently did, to oppose all progress and all that was good, independent Members like

Mr. Macfarlane, the Government Inspector of prisons, who was present at the inquest. He begged to explain that he had no charge to make against the Government in reference to the matter; and that his object in calling the attention of the Chief Secretary for Ireland-than whom there could not be a more humane and honour

be given to negligence or cruelty to a prisoner on the part of a Government officer.

MR. GATHORNE HARDY said, his noble Friend the Chief Secretary for Ireland, who was absent from the House, had already written to Dublin on the subject; all the information he possessed in regard to it being that obtained from the newspapers; and, no doubt, when he received a reply, he would communicate with the hon. Gentleman.

time, and passed.
Motion agreed to; Bill read the third

ARMY-WOODEN HUTS FOR TROOPS.

MOTION FOR AN ADDRESS.

COLONEL FRENCH said, he rose to move for an Address for a Copy of all Correspondence between Government and the Medical Men or Officers in the command of Regiments stationed at Aldershot,

Shorncliffe, and Colchester, as to the impolicy and hardship of keeping in Wooden Huts during this severe winter old rheumatic soldiers from hot climates and young recruits. These huts were neither air-tight nor water-tight, and he had it from an officer that he woke one morning and found his head covered with snow. During the winter the men suffered very severely. The Secretary for War had not only promised that the subject should receive immediate consideration, but had led them to believe that the men should not remain in the huts during the winter; but they had been completely disappointed, and if the Government did not redress the evil, he should feel it his duty to bring the subject before the House.

SIR HARRY VERNEY thought this was one of those evils which tended to make the service unpopular, and hoped that, in the event of the Secretary for War not dispensing with the use of the huts in the winter, the hon. and gallant Member would persevere in taking the sense of the House upon the question.

Motion agreed to.

Address for " Copy of all Correspondence between Government and the Medical Men or Officers in the command of Regiments stationed at Aldershot, Shorncliffe, and Colchester, as to the impolicy and hardship of keeping in Wooden Huts, during this severe winter, old rheumatic soldiers from hot climates and young recruits."-(Colonel French.)

PARLIAMENT-ARRANGEMENTS OF
THE HOUSE.

MOTION FOR A SELECT COMMITTEE.

COLONEL FRENCH said, that the Motion now made by his right hon. Friend was somewhat different from the Notice he had placed upon the Paper. He (Colonel French) hoped the Committee would not confine their inquiries to the House itself, but that they would take into consideration the expediency of making alterations in the refreshment department and other parts of the building, with the view to their improvement, and the greater convenience of hon. Members.

MR. HEADLAM said, that the Instruction to the Committee was to consider the arrangements of the several rooms and offices of the House.

VISCOUNT CRANBORNE said, that there was a danger in heaping too much work upon the shoulders of the Committee. It appeared to him to be far better to appoint two separate Committees to investigate all the matters referred to by the hon. and gallant Gentleman. He was sure that the experience of everybody proved that, when Committees were overloaded with subjects, they never arrived at satisfactory decisions.

LORD JOHN MANNERS said, that if two such Committees were appointed they might come to conclusions with respect to the alterations to be made in the building which would be entirely at variance. He was, besides, of opinion that the Committee, for the re-appointment of which the right hon. Gentleman opposite moved, would have no difficulty in dealing with improvements of the kind suggested by the hon. and gallant Gentleman.

Motion agreed to.

the same, with a view to the greater convenience
of Members in the discharge of their duties, and
how better accommodation can be provided within
the precincts of the llouse for the transaction of
House, by Members holding Offices in the Go-
Departmental Business, during the Sittings of the
vernment."-(Mr. Headlam.)

MR. HEADLAM said, he rose to move for the appointment of a Select Committee ther any alteration can be made in the arrangeSelect Committee appointed, "to consider wheto consider whether any alteration could be ments of the House of Commons, so as to enable made in the arrangements of the House, a greater number of Members to hear and take so as to enable a greater number of Mem- part in the proceedings; and to consider the arbers to hear and take part in the proceed-tached to the Ilouse, and the means of access to rangement of the several rooms and offices atings. The House would recollect that the Committee appointed last year to consider that subject took a certain amount of evidence and had certain plans laid before them; but, in consequence of the lateness of the Session and the difficulties of the question, they found it impossible to come to any definite report. They accordingly unanimously agreed only to report the evidence, and to recommend that the Committee should be re-appointed. In pursuance of that recommendation he made the present Motion, and he proposed that the instructions to the Committee should be the same as those of last Session.

And, on March 6, Committee nominated as
follows:- Mr. HEADLAM, Lord JOHN MANNERS,
Mr. WILLIAM COWPER, Mr. TITE, Mr. BAZLEY,
Viscount CRANBORNE, Mr. HANKEY, Sir FREDERICK
HEYGATE, Lord ELCHо, Mr. CARDWELL, Mr.
BAILLIE COCHRANE, Mr. DARBY GRIFFITH, Mr. JOHN
BRIGHT, Sir CHARLES LANYON, and Mr. BERESFORD
HOPE:-Power to send for persons, papers, and
records; Five to be the quorum.

House adjourned at Four o'clock,

H

HOUSE OF LORDS,

Thursday, February 20, 1868.

MINUTES.]-SELECT COMMITTEE-On Promis-
sory Oaths nominated.

PUBLIC BILLS-First Reading-Habeas Corpus
Suspension (Ireland) Act Continuance (18).
Third Reading-East London Museum Site* (12),
and passed.

INDIA.-QUESTION.

THE DUKE OF ARGYLL said, it appeared from discussions in the public press that Her Majesty's Government were in possession of the answers which were given by various civil and military officers to certain questions put by Sir John Lawrence in respect to the popularity of our Government in India. As those answers were of great interest, it was desirable that they should be communicated to Parliament. He had no doubt that the Government would not object to the production of those

answers.

THE EARL OF MALMESBURY said, as no notice had been given of the Question of the noble Duke he could not yet give an answer; but he did not think there would be any objection to lay the papers on the table.

House adjourned at a quarter-past
Five o'clock, till To-morrow,
half-past Ten o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS,

Thursday, February 20, 1868.

ther Sir Henry Storks has been appointed to an office under the Secretary of State for War; and, if so, whether he will state the nature of that office and the salary attached to it. He would further beg to ask the right hon. Baronet to state whether this office was an entirely new creation; and what is the position of the new officer with regard to the other heads of Departments under the Secretary of State for War; and what is his controlling power?

SIR JOHN PAKINGTON: Sir, it is quite true that Sir Henry Storks has accepted an office under the Secretary of State for War. Sir Henry Storks will be placed at the head of a new branch of the War Office, to be called "The Control Department;" and his title will be "The Controller-in-Chief," with the rank and position of an Under Secretary of State. The salary of Sir Henry Storks is fixed at £2,000 a year.

FOREIGN OFFICE AGENCIES.

QUESTION.

MR. BAYLEY POTTER said, he would

beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he has any obthe Persons for whom the Clerks in the jection to give a Return of the names of Foreign Office now act as agents, or have so acted at any time during the last five years; of the emoluments which such Clerks have individually received for such agency during the last five years, and the amount received by them from each Person; and whether there is any truth in the statement which has appeared in the public press that the agencies in the Foreign Office are to be abolished?

LORD STANLEY: Sir, I have no ob

MINUTES.]--SELECT COMMITTEE-On Contro-jection to give a Return of the names of

verted Elections, Chairmen's Panel appointed;
on Shannon River appointed; on Metropolitan
Foreign Cattle Market, Mr. Locke and Mr.
Corrance added.

PUBLIC BILLS-Ordered-Ecclesiastical Titles;
Capital Punishment within Prisons; Lee
River Conservancy; Railways (Extension of
Time); Sunday Trading (Metropolis); Me-
tropolis Subways.*
First Reading-Capital Punishment within Pri-
sons [36] Ecclesiastical Titles [37]; Lee
River Conservancy [38]; Railways (Extension
of Time) [39]; Sunday Trading (Metropolis) *
[40]; Metropolis Subways* [41].

those persons for whom Clerks in the Foreign Office now act, or for the last five years have acted, as agents. With regard to the emoluments, I am prepared to give the aggregate annual amount received by each agent, as that may become a matter of public interest should any question of I do not think it compensation arise. would be fair to give the amount contributed by each individual, as that is purely a matter of a voluntary and private character, no Diplomatic or Consular officer being required to appoint an agent. With reference to the last part of the Question of the hon. Member, I have to say that MR. OTWAY said, he would beg to the question of the abolition of these agenask the Secretary of State for War, Whe-cies is under consideration.

ARMY-APPOINTMENT OF SIR HENRY

STORKS.-QUESTION.

INDIA-BANK OF BOMBAY.

QUESTION.

MR. DYCE NICOL said, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, Whether the Bombay Government has been authorized to take shares in, and resume a connection with, a new Bank similar to that existing with the institution now being wound up under Act 19 of 1857 of Legislative Council of India; whether, as stated in a recent Memorial of Shareholders, £2,000,000 had been lost of the original capital of £2,090,000 of that establishment; and if he will lay before the House the whole of the Correspondence connected with the liquidation of the old and the reconstruction of the new Bank of Bombay?

such a revision, the Postmaster General found it necessary to give notice to terminate the Convention. Correspondence is now going on between the British Post Office and that of the United States with a view to an improved Convention.

SCOTLAND-JUDICIAL STATISTICS.

QUESTION.

SIR EDWARD COLEBROOK said, he wished to ask the Lord Advocate, Whether the Government are preparing to take steps for the annual compilation of Judicial Statistics for Scotland?

THE LORD ADVOCATE said, in reply, that the Government fully recognized the importance of having a more comprehensive SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE: It and minute system of Judicial Statistics is the case, Sir, that the Bombay Govern- than had hitherto been obtained, and steps ment has been authorized to take shares in had been taken for that purpose. He was the new Bank of Bombay, and to resume a about to introduce very shortly a Bill conGovernment connection with it. The containing some clauses to impose on the nection is not to be precisely the same as officers of the Courts the duty of making that which existed with the previous Bank; such Returns. because I believe it will be more convenient to appoint a Government Inspector with sufficient powers than to have Government Directors. But that is a point still under consideration. With regard to the amount of loss of capital, I am not able to say exactly whether the statement to which the hon. Gentleman refers is accurate or not. The Memorial of which he speaks is, I suppose, the Memorial still in preparation, which has not yet been sent to the India Office. I suppose a very large amount of capital has been lost, but the extent of it I am not able to give. With regard to the Correspondence, I shall be prepared to lay it before the House.

UNITED STATES-POSTAL TREATY.

QUESTION.

MR. BAXTER said, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, If it is true that the Government has already given notice to the Government of the United States to terminate the Postal Treaty between the two countries, which has only been in operation a few weeks; and if so, what are the reasons for adopting so unusual a course?

MR. HUNT: Sir, when the Post Office authorities began to bring the Convention into operation it was found to require revision upon certain points. In order to put himself into a position to negotiate

BANKRUPTCY BILL.-QUESTION.
MR. MOFFATT said, he wished to ask
bring in the Bankruptey Bill?
Mr. Attorney General, When he intends to

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL: I am but it will be introduced, I believe, in the not, Sir, in a position to name the day, other House of Parliament in the course of a very short time.

ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION.

QUESTION.

MR. WHALLEY said, he would beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Abyssinian Expedition, Whether the Estimate of the probable expenditure, presented to the House in November last, when the Expedition was sanctioned, is likely to be exceeded; and if so, whether he is prepared to state to what extent, and what are the circumstances which account for the same?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: Sir, I have no reason to believe that the Estimates for the Abyssinian Expedition have been exceeded.

MR. DARBY GRIFFITH said, he wished to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, in reference to his statement that he had no reason to believe that the Estimates of the Abyssinian Expedition had been exceeded, Whether this referred to the sum

of £2,000,000, which was the amount at such portion of them as might be agreed which they had been placed according to on. They have not as yet entered upon the the popular impression, or to the sum of terms of that advance. I have received a £4,000,000, which the right hon. Gentle- communication from the Company this day, man had himself specified as that to which which places the arrangement with regard they might probably reach? to Behar beyond any doubt, and I hope to-morrow to be able to settle with the Council of India the terms upon which they will be prepared to arrange the offer of a loan.