ters by the West India Mails at sea POOR LAW-KENSINGTON SICK ASYLUM

during the homeward passage ? DISTRICT.-QUESTION.

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON MR. J. G. TALBOT said, he wished said, in reply, that inquiries were being to ask the President of the Poor Law made with a view not to expose to risk Board, Whether it is his intention to the health of the officers doing that duty; recommend the dissolution of the Ken- and to ascertain whether it would be sington Sick Asylum District; and, if possible to discontinue the sorting of the not, how soon it is likely that the plans mails on board, and to arrange for the for that Asylum, which were submitted sorting of them between Plymouth and to the Poor Law Board for their ap- Bristol; but this course would not be proval in December last, will be ap- carried out if it was found that it would proved ?

occasion inconvenience to the public. MR. GOSCHEN, in reply, said, with respect to the first part of the Question ASSESSED RATES BILL.- QUESTION. of the hon. Member, he might state that LORD HENLEY said, he wished to at present the Poor Law Board could ask the President of the Poor Law not dissolve a sick asylum district, and Board, Whether it is his intention to prothey would not be enabled to do so ceed with the Assessed Rates Bill; and unless the present Metropolitan Poor if not, whether he is about to propose Amendment Bill should become law.

any

other measure for the amendment With respect to the approval of the of the system created by the Rating plans, he found when he came into Office Clauses of the Reform Acť? that a site had been purchased for the MR. GOSCHEN: It is, Sir, the inproposed sick asylum for £15,500, which tention of Her Majesty's Government to appeared to him a considerable sum, proceed with the Assessed Rates Bill. and he had since ascertained that a fur- Ît is right, however, to add that I prother outlay would be required for drain- pose to move clauses in Committee for ing and fencing the land. Representa- the

Representa- the purpose of facilitating and securing, tions had been made to him against the as far as possible, the adoption of that site, and also against the expense of the most advantageous system of agreements asylum proposed to be built, by the mana- for the payment of rates between the gers and the guardians of the two parishes overseers and the owners of the poorer of Kensington, and St. Margaret's and St. class of house property, the latter being John's which form the district, requesting allowed a reasonable commission in conhim to stay action in the matter. It had sideration of the risks they undertake. been also represented to him that the It would, of course, follow that a modiexisting workhouses of the two parishes, fication should be made with regard to with the adjacent sites, might be so far Clause 4 of the Bill. I mean the clause utilized as to render one of them avail- which provides for uniform deduction of able for the sick asylum, an opinion in 25 per cent from houses let for short which he was disposed to concur. He periods, without distinction whether the had been pressing the guardians to landlords agree to pay the rates or not. suggest a plan by which such ar- I need scarcely add that it will be our rangement might be carried into effect; duty to take the most rigid precautions but hitherto, he regretted to say, with that such agreements should not imperil out success. He had, however, been the placing of the name of the occupier promised communications from the guar- on the register, or endangering his polidians on the subject, and the further tical franchise. I think the fairest and consideration of the plans was reserved most convenient course will be to place in order that he might previously ascer- the clauses to which I have alluded on tain whether the guardians would co- the Notice Paper before the House is operate in the arrangement proposed. asked to consent to the second reading,

and that is the course which I propose

to take. POST OFFICE-WEST INDIA MAILS. QUESTION.

NAVY-WOOLWICII DOCKYARD-MR. W. MR. CANDLISH said, he would beg

BARNES.-QUESTION. to ask the Postmaster General, If it is in- MR. MILLS said, he would beg to tended to discontinue assorting the let- ask the First Lord of the Admiralty,

QUESTION.

Whether it is true that a pension or gra- thorized to deduct it out of the rent then tuity has been refused to Mr. W. Barnes, coming due whenever it was paid. He who has served for upwards of twenty- might point out that under the present five years as Admiralty Pilot at Wool- arrangement tenants who paid their rent wich, and, if so, for what reason; and half-yearly were called upon in April to what steps are being taken to secure the advance this payment on behalf of their occupation of the Dockyard at Woolwich landlord, which they did not recover till as soon as possible after the Govern- Michaelmas, and again in October, which ment Establishment there is closed ? they did not recover till March ; whereas

MR. CHILDERS said, in reply, that by his proposal the tax would be collecan Order in Council, passed in 1819, de- ted in January or February, and the prived the Admiralty of the power to tenant would recover it out of the rent grant such a pension, on the ground he paid in March. After all, the sum that the payment of full rate as Admi- involved was very trifling; taking the ralty pilot, which Mr. Barnes had re- income tax at 4d., the amount on £100 ceived, was sufficient. A pension was would be £1 138. 4d., and the interest applied for by Mr. Barnes on the ground on that, at 5 per cent, in three months that, in 1847, he fell down the hold of a was only five pence. ship, but the application was not acceded

CORN DUTY.-QUESTION. to. With regard to Woolwich Dockyard, no eligible offers had been made MR. A. JOHNSTON said, he would for it, but the Admiralty would take beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchemeans to let their intentions be known. quer, Whether he is prepared to comply

with the wishes of a large number of METROPOLIS-BATTERSEA PARK. eminent firms in the City of London, by

giving orders to the Custom House auMR. PEEK said, he wished to ask ceive all Duties from this day forward

thorities throughout the kingdom to rethe First Commissioner of Works, Whe- under Custom House Certificates that ther there would be any objection to such amount paid as Import Duties shall allow the Public to bathe in the con- be returned to the parties who shall creted water in Battersea Park before 8 have paid them after this day, provided a.m., in consequence of the risk of life

the House shall eventually decide to take that arose from bathing in the Thames ?

off the said Duty ? MR. LAYARD said, in reply, that the ornamental water in Battersea Park QUER said, in reply, that the question

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEwas comparatively small in extent and had been carefully considered, and the was shallow, and public bathing would Government thought that they would be objectionable unless a bathing-house best discharge their duty by adhering to was erected, which would spoil the ap- the determination he had announced, pearance of the water.

He did not that the duty should be collected for the think, therefore, it would be desirable to allow bathing

purpose of revenue up to the 1st of June, and after that date that it should cease,

if the House gave its consent to the proPAYMENT OF THE INCOME TAX.

posals of the Government. QUESTION. MR. NEVILLE-GRENVILLE said,

REGULATION OF COAL MINES. he would beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of

QUESTION. the Exchequer, Out of what rent will a MR. KINNAIRD said, he would beg tenant paying his landlord's Income Tax to ask the Secretary of State for the under Schedule (A), in January 1870, Home Department, Whether, considerbe entitled to deduct the amount ? ing the numerous and serious accidents

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHE- that have recently occurred, he is preQUER said, in reply, that the answer pared this Session to introduce a Bill to this Question was contained in the for the better regulation of Coal Mines? words of the Act of Parliament imposing MR. BRUCE said, in reply, that he the income tax, which authorized the had given notice of his intention to in. deduction to be made “out of the first troduce a Bill to consolidate and amend payment thereafter made on account of the Acts relating to the regulation and the rent;" that was, the tenant was au- inspection of mines.

desirous Her Majesty's Government TELEGRAPHS BILL.- QUESTION.

might be to maintain amicable relations MR. BAINES said, he would beg to with all Governments, it did not seem, ask the Postmaster General, If he can in- under these circumstances, that the first form the House whether the Telegraphs step towards re-opening diplomatic relaBill will be prosecuted ; and, if so, whe- tions with Mexico should be taken by ther he can state when ?

this country THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON said, in reply, that he was afraid he

PARLIAMENT-BUSINESS OF THE could add nothing to the answer he had given on this subject a few weeks ago.

HOUSE.- OBSERVATIONS. The fact was, the arbitrations between

MR. GLADSTONE: I think, Sir, the Government and the various com- that the House will probably share the panies as to the sums to be paid for the opinion of the Government that the appurchase and compensation were in pro- proaching discussion of the Bill on the gress

. Some were completed, but the Irish Church should be proceeded with larger number were still incomplete. with as much consecutiveness as may be When the arrangements had made more consistent with the convenience of hon. progress it might be possible to form Members to abate their individual rights some estimate of the total sum that to bring forward Motions of which they would have to be paid, and he would had given notice. I have already had then state what were the intentions of

communication with some of those Genthe Government. He might add that tlemen, and have received from several notice would be given in the London the courteous answer that they will not Gazette to-morrow of the intention of the stand in our way. I think it would be Government to move for leave to bring advantageous to all parties if we could in Bill to enable the Government, in the

now know whether it is likely that there event of their obtaining the property of will be any material delay to-morrow the telegraph companies, also to obtain before we could move the continuation a monopoly of the transmission of tele- of the Committee on the Bill, presuming graph messages throughout the country. we get into Committee to-night. The

hon. Baronet the Member for North DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH MEXICO. Wiltshire (Sir George Jenkinson) stands

first on the list of Notices. I understand MR. H. B. SHERIDAN said, he he is not disposed to bring on his Mowished to ask the Under Secretary of tion, provided it be the general intention State for Foreign Affairs, If any, and of Members having similar Notices to what steps have been taken by the Go- give way. I do not see the hon. Baronet vernment of this Country to re-open in his place; but, perhaps, I have aldiplomatic relations with Mexico ? ready done as much as may be neces

MR. OTWAY, in reply, said, he did sary by suggesting what is probably the not know whether the hon. Member was general wish, that Members will abstain aware of the circumstances under which as much as possible from bringing forthe rupture of diplomatic relations be- ward Motions, unless there be some imtween this country and Mexico took mediate and positive pressure, so that place. On the re-establishment of the we may be enabled to go forward with present Republican Government Presi- the Irish Church Bill. dent Juarez intimated that it was the CAPTAIN GROSVENOR said, he would decision of his Government not to hold not persevere with the Motion of which communication with the agents of any he had given notice. of the Powers who had recognized the

MR. HUNT said, he had placed a preceding and de facto Government of Notice on the Paper for a statement reMexico. Mr. Glenny, our Consul in garding Exchequer balances, payments, the City of Mexico, was not allowed to and receipts, and unless the Chancellor fulfil his consular jurisdiction, and under of the Exchequer allowed the Return to those circumstances the Government of be given unopposed it would be necesLord Derby instructed Her Majesty's sary for him to make the Motion. He Charge d'Affaires at Mexico to with- could not postpone it, as he wished the draw, taking with him all the other Return to illustrate the operation of the members of the Legation. However Budget.

QUESTION.

COMMITTEE.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHE- Motion made, and Question proposed, QUER said, the Motion imposed on him “That Mr. Speaker do now leave the the duty of predicting the state of future Chair.”—(Mr. Gladstone.) balances, which he could not undertake to do. Perhaps the right hon. Gentle

MR. NEWDEGATE: * Sir, I feel that man would be satisfied to take the Re- some apology is due from me to the turn for the past year.

House in rising to make the Motion of MR. HUNT said, he believed from his which I have given notice in my capacity experience at Downing Street that the as an individual Member of the House; Return could be prepared. The right but, Sir, I make that Motion, not as the hon. Gentleman might suggest any modi- humble individual whom you have just fications.

named, but upon the part of the constiMAJOR O'REILLY said, he was per- tuency whom I have had the honour of fectly willing to postpone the Motion of representing now for twenty-six years ; which he had given notice.

and if the House should find that the representation of the opinion of North

Warwickshire is imperfect, owing to any IRISH CHURCH BILL-[Bill 27.]

deficiency on my part, the blame rests (Mr. Dodson, Mr. Gladstone, Mr. John Bright,

with that constituency-a constituency Mr. Chichester Fortescue, Mr. Attorney

extending over 460,000 of the populaGeneral for Ireland.)

tion of the centre of England—and not with the humble individual who simply

obeys their behests in this case. At the Order for Committee read.

last election, I was returned distinctly as MR. SINCLAIR AYTOUN said, he an independent Member. I was returned rose for the purpose of making the Mo- after I had taken the utmost pains to tion which stood in his name

come to a clear understanding with all “ That it be an Instruction to the Committee tical opinion, in that constituency, as to

classes, and almost every section of polithat they have power to dissolve the Corporation what should be my duty with respect to of the Trustees of the College of Maynooth, and to provide that no money be paid over to the said this proposal; and we considered—and trustees, but that only compensation fairly due when I say "we". I mean that the into the Professors and Students consequent on the habitants of Warwickshire considered it loss suffered by them by the withdrawal of the Maynooth Grant be paid to them by the Commise particularly in this light, that the disessioners appointed by the Bill, in the same manner tablishment and the disendowment of the and according to the same principles as is pro- Protestant Church in Ireland would pave vided by the Bill with regard to the Incumbents the way for, and must entail, the estabof the Anglican Church and the recipients of the lishment of the Roman Catholic Church Regium Donum."

in its stead. We considered the eviMR. SPEAKER: It is my duty to in- dence, which was given before the Comform the hon. Member in public, as I mittees of both Houses of Parliament have already done in private, that his with respect to the grounds upon which Instruction is not in Order, for this the repeal of the Ecclesiastical Titles Act reason, that the Committee already pos- is demanded, and we came to the clear sesses the power he proposes to give it conclusion that, if the Establishment of by the Instruction. In order to prevent the Protestant Church in Ireland is swept the necessity of special Instructions to away, nothing can prevent the establishCommittees, a Standing Order was passed, ment of the Roman Catholic Church, in 1854, that all Committees should have because the Pope rejects Establishments the power to make such Amendments as by virtue of the laws of any State, and they deem fit in Bills, provided they are claims to erect his Establishment by his relevant to the subject of the Bill. The own authority. And now, Sir, before I matter involved in this Instruction is proceed further, one word with reference certainly relevant to the subject of the to the state of parties in this House. A Bill; but what is yet more forcible is division has been taken upon the second that Clause 39 deals specially with the reading of this Bill, and that may be subject matter of the hon. Gentleman's considered as a party division; I apAmendment. It would not, therefore, proach this question upon purely distinct be in Order that he should move the In- gro nds, representing the objections of struction.

persons of all parties-objections not al

a

a

ways avowed, but entertained to my cer- | new Parliament, elected by an altered tain knowledge by many Gentlemen, who constituency, and which, it was hoped, sit behind the Government. I have would afford a fairer representation of never known any case in which party the opinions of the people of the United obligations have been strained as they Kingdom, is to be held, by the two have been in this instance. Many hon. Leaders of the House, incompetent to Gentlemen are sitting on those Benches discuss the principle of a measure, when, who, from their antecedents, ought to for the first time, it is submitted in its have some regard for the preservation of formulated shape for the consideration of the supremacy of the Crown and of the Parliament. We, the opponents of this law in Ireland unimpaired ; and yet I measure, may be told, that we are a mihave seen them vote almost to a man for nority. Be it so. Let those who make a measure which I am convinced will di- that remark with a view to staying legirectly impair the operation of the supre- timate discussion look at the Forms and macy and the Prerogative of the Crown, Orders of this House, which have lasted and the supremacy of the law in Ireland. now for 200 years, and in those Forms I have said, the supremacy of the law, and Standing Orders they will find that, because the Crown of these realms is in the Parliament of England, the miheld by law, and represents the chiefdom nority have always been held to be inof the executive of the law. I can only trusted with peculiar duties, and are by say, Sir, that I am exceedingly sorry for these

very
Orders armed with

power

and those hon. Gentlemen. There they sit, with functions which secure the full, with the Government in their front, com- free, and deliberate discussion of every mitted to this measure, and on their right great measure that may be submitted to they have the Roman Catholic Members, us. I, therefore, Sir, in the performance whose organization, whatever else we of my duty, as one of the minority, if it may say of it, is certainly complete, and is a minority, now challenge the prinwho were once called the "Pope's Brass ciple of this Bill; and I will show that Band," a title which they seem to have I challenge it on points that have not forfeited by their exemplary silence dur- been adequately discussed either in the ing the present Session. 'I appeal to present or the late Parliament. For one, every Member who has had a seat in Sir, I refuse in any way to be bound by this House during the last two Sessions, the decision of the late House of Comwhether the contrast between the extra- mons, which, by its own act in passing ordinary activity, the constant appeals of the Reform Bill

, died self-condemned. the section to which I refer, last Session, I object to this measure on the ground whilst this measure was brewing, and that it will impair the supremacy of the their wonderful silence this Session does Crown, and the supremacy of the law in not indicate that they have received or- Ireland ; that it is a preparation for the ders—as I know they have received or- direct invasion of the Prerogative of the ders-not to disturb the progress of this Crown. The Prerogative, according to measure by any display of injudicious our Constitution, is important only as loquacity. Weil, Sir, it may be said, expressing the functions of the head of and the right hon. Gentleman the Prime the Executive and this measure is preMinister has told the House, that the paratory to the subversion of the exerprinciple of this measure was decided cise of the functions of the head of the last Session, that it has been debated in Executive. Why do I make this asserthe country during the elections, that no tion? I will give an illustration on this question, touching the principle of this point from a circumstance which is fameasure, ought now to be raised for dis- miliar to the Members of the House, cussion among the representatives of the with whom I have had the pleasure of people ; and the right hon. Gentleman serving in former Parliaments, and exhas set us an example of abstinence from emplifies my reasons for saying that this discussing the principle of the measure measure will impair the completeness when he introduced it. He assumed the and universality of the supremacy of the decision of the country, and I blame the law and the Crown in Ireland. It was right hon. Gentleman the Member for not until the year 1866 that the oaths Buckinghamshire for having, by resign- were altered; that the oath taken by the ing the Office which he filled, afforded an Protestant Members was abrogated, and excuse for the assumption, that this, a that the oath of the Roman Catholic

[Committee.