Monmouthshire Merlin

HOUSE OF COMMONS. FHIDAT.—The Speaker took the chair at four o'clock. SUNDAY CLOSING IN IRELAND. In answer to Mr. O'Clery, Sir M. H. BEACH said the Government did not propose to introduce a bill this session for the closing of public houses in Ireland on Sunday. Notice of a bill had already been given by an independent member. THE ADDRESS. Lord Galway brought up the Address in reply to the Queen's Speech, which was read by the.Clerk at the table. Mr. G. DUFF complained that no reference was con- tained in the Royal Speech to the terrible calamity which had destroyed a quarter of a million of people in India. He thought that instead of wasting money in firing salutes at Delhi it would have been much better to have expended it In relieving the distress occasioned by this calamity. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the omission was an oversight, and the Government deeply regretted that it should have occurred. The calamity was an un- precedented one, against which it was impossible to guard, and the Indian Government bad done all in their power to relieve the distress occasioned by it. The Address was tfien agreed to. THE PRISONS BILL. Mr. CROSS moved for leave to bring in a bill to amend the law relating to prisons in England. He stated that the principle of the bill was similar to that of last year, and he was anxious to press it forward as rapidly as possible. There would be a variation in some of the details of the measure. His chief object was to secure uniformity of management, but objection was raised to the taking over of all the prisons by the Secretary of State. It was alleged that there ought to be one local prison in each county. Without admitting this as a general rule, he bad amended the bill of last year so as to provide that there should be one prison in each county, unless the Secre- tary of State considered it right to take It away, and laid his reasons for so doing on the table. The measure further empowered the Secretary of State to make uniform regulations for all prisons. Mr. WHALLEY complained of the centralisation which the bill involved, and said that in addition to being a bribe to the local authorities it would enable tae Government to appoint Roman Catholic chaplains. After some observations from Mr. Newdegate, Mr. Downing, and Mr. Mundella, Dr. KBNEALY complained of the treatment which the Claimant had received at Dartmoor, and said that, ac- cording to Mr. Onslow, it was more horrible than any- thing which had been described in connection with foreign prisons. In the course of the hon. member's remarks, Mr. WHALLEY rose to order, and complained that while the hon. member was making this harrowing statement the Home Secretary was paying no attention whatever to his remarks, but was engaged in a conversation with an hon. member beside him. The SPEAKER pointed out that Mr. "Whalley had risen to a point of order, but had not stated what breach of order had been committed. Mr. WHALLEY said his only object was to attract the attention of the Home Secretary. I Mr. CROSS said he believed that bill would lead to great economy and reforms in the treatment of criminals confined In prisons. In regard to the treatment of the Claimant, the circumstances referred to by the hon. member for Stoke had not been brought under his notice, but he would see that inquiry was made into the matter. The hon. member might rest fully assured that the Government would tolerate no distinction or differ- ence in the treatment of one prisoner from another. Leave waa then given to bring in the bill. A BATCH OF NEW BILLS. Sir M. H. Beach obtained leave to bring In a bill to amend the laws relating to prisons in Ireland. The Lord Advocate obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the law relating to prisons in Scotland. Sir H. Ibbot- soa obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the law with respect to the appointment, payment, and fees of clerks of justices of the peace and clerks of special and petty sessions. Leave to introduce bills WItS given to the following hon. mem- bers:—Mr. O'Clery, Mil to authorise the enrolment of Volunteer corps in Ireland; Mr. Holt. for the more effectual prevention of cruelty to animals Mr. Waddy, to provide for the registration of newspapers; Mr, Hop- wood, to amend the law relating to summary procedure before justices; Mr. Gorst, to declare the jurisdiction of her Majesty seawards; Mr. Cowper-Temple, to reform certain ecclesiastical offices, and to regulate ecclesias- tical fees; Sir P.. Anstruther, to amend the law rela- ting to the sale by retail of intoxicating liquors in Scotland; and Mr. Shaw-Lefevre, to restrict the sower of entailing and settliogland and other property Mr. M. Henry, to amend the law relating to the regis- tration of parliamentary voters in Ireland; Sir J. Lubbock, to provide for the protection of ancient monu- ments Mr. Jacob Bright, to remove the electoral disabilities of women; Mr. Biggar, for the extension of the franchise in Ireland Mr. Chaplin, to prevent acci- dents by thrashing machines; Mr. Butt, to amend the laws relating to the tenure of land in Ireland Col. Chap- lin, to regulate the use of locomotives on common roads; Sir H. Wolf to relieve certain electoral disqualifications; Mr..T. Cowen, to provide for the election of boards for granting licences for the sale of intoxicating drinks; Mr. M'Lagan, to amend the Scotch game laws; Mr. Hubbard, to amend the law relating to ciossed clieques 08 bankers: Mr. O'Sullivan, for the better administra- tion of justice at petty sessions courts in Ireland; Mr. K. Hajfessen, to legalise certain colonial marriages; Mr. M'Laren, to abolish church rates In Scotland; Dr. Cameron, to abolish the present system of proclaiming banns of marriage in Scotland, and to make better provision for the due publication of banns;. Mr. Agnew, to abolish the landlords' right of hypothec in Scotland; Sir J. M'Kenna, to amend the law of union rating in Ireland; Mr. O'Reilly, to provide county representative councils in Ireland; Mr. Bruen, to reform and assimilate the systems of local government In Ireland; Mr. Monk. to abolish the cnru/e d'elire, and to provide for the appoint- ment of archbishops and bishops; Mr. G. O. Morgan, to amend the burial laws; Mr. Sullivau, to regu- late the sale of intoxicating liquors in Ireland; Sir C. Dilke, to amend the law with respect to the re- gistration of borough voters in England and Wales Mr. Burt, to extend the provisions of the Employers and Workmen Act to seamen while they are In British waters Mr. Potter, for better settling the real estates of intestates; Mr. Colltnf. to amend the law in Ireland regarding the municipal franchise Mr. Anderson, for the protection of the property of married women in Scotland; Sir Wilfrid Lawson, to enable owners and occupiers of property in certain districts to prevent the common sale of intoxicating liquors within such dis- tricts Mr. W. Gordon, to amend the law relating to legal practitioners Dr. Ward, for the regulation and encouragement of the coastanddeeper fisheries of Ireland; Mr. Chad wick, for the amendment of the Companies Acts; Sir C. O'Loghlen. to provide for the election by ballot of poor-law guardians In Ireland; Mr. Wilbra- ham Egerton, to provide further facilities for the per- formance of public worship according to the rites of the Church of England; Mr. Parnell, to further amend the Irish Church Amendment Act; Mr. Bass, to abolish im- prisonment for debt; Mr. R. Smyth, to prohibit the general sale of intoxicating liquors on Sunday in Ire- land; Mr. Crawford, to amend the Irish Landlord and Tenant Acts; Mr. Newdegate, for inquiry by commissioners with respect to monastic I and con-entual Institutions in Great Britain; Mr. Boord, to amend the Parliamentary Electors Regis- tration Acts; Mr. Anderson, for licences of race- courses; Mr. Butt, to make better provision for Uni- versity education in Ireland Mr. K. Smyth, to legalise ter. ant right at the end of a least) in Ireland Sir C. O'Loghlen, to protect agricultural tenants in Ireland from capricious evictment, and to enable them in cer- tain cases'to acquire security of tenure: Mr. Marten, rc amend the laws relating to Parliamentary aod munici- pal registration, to forfeiture for breach of covenant or condition, and to leases and sales of settled estates. The House adjourned at half-past seven.

HOUSE OF LORDS. HONDAT.—Their Lordships met at five o'clock. ENGLISH OFFICERS IN CONSTANTINOPLE. The Duke of ST. Ai-BANs asked the Government whether it was correctly stated in the newspapers that officers in the Royal Engineers were sent out to Constan- tinople; in what capacity they surveyed the defences there and in what light their mission was represented to the Turkish Government. The Earl of OADOGAN, in reply, said Officers have from time to time been employed by the War Office in various parts of the East to obtain intelligence that has been thought necessary for the service of her Majesty's Government. (Hear.) It is obviously impossible for me to enter into details in this House as to information which they have at any time obtained. (Hear, hear.) I can, however, assure the noble Duke that these officers have been employed exclusively in the service, and for the objects of her Majesty's Government—(hear, hear) -and that their services have never been placed at the disposal of any Government whatever; nor have any expectations been held out that their services would be 80 placed at any future time. "rith regard to the last part of the question, I have to say that no Information whatever has been given to her Majesty's Ambassador to make any representation to the Turkish Government on the question. (Hear, hear.) Their Lordahipa adjourned at 25 minutes to 6 o'clock-

HOUSE OF COMMONS. MONDAY.—The Speaker took the chair at four o'clock. NEW MEMBER. Mr..T. E. Severne took the oath and his seat for South Shropshire, In the room of Sir P. Herbert, deceased. NEW YV'RITFOR HALIFAX. On the motion of Mr. Adam, a new writ was ordered for Halifax, in the room of Mr..T. Crossley, resigned. SUNDAY CI. M N OF PUHLIC-HOUSKS. Mr. Wilson gave notice of his intention to bring in a bill to prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquors in England and Wales on Sunday. BARL.If.TBiw' P.IACTICK. Sir C. O'Loghlen intimated his intention to bring in a bill to enable members of the bar cf England to practise in Ireland, and vice rertta. THL LULGAEIAN 1' .T u A • KS. Tn answer to Mr. Ashley, Mr. BOVKKE stated that the Blue Looks already published contained ali the informa- tion in the possession of the Government as to the steps which had been taken by the Turkish Government, to comply with the demands of her Majesty'# Government for reparation and justice in the case ot the Unitarian outrages. Some of ttie officials whose conduct was stroug,ly condemned in Mr. Baring's report had been tried and acquitted, and Mr. P«ari;g wr.s not satisfied that the Turkish Government had done all they ought to have dune. Mr. GLADSTONE rose to ask a question, and was met with cics of Order" from the Ministerial benches. He denied that be was out of order, and said he simply wished to put the question now to save the necessity of giving formal notice. He wanted to know if the Govern- ment would give a return of the number of sentences passed on those engaged in the rising in the Turkish provinces, and upon those engaged in suppressing it. He a'so wished to know If it was true that Shefket Pasha was arrested, and if he was a relative of Midhat Pasha. Mr BOURKT: said he could not give the return asked for until he had consulted the Foreign Secretary. It had been stated that Sbefket Pasha was a relative of Midhat Pasha, but the statement had since been denied. Shefket Fash* had not been arrested, but he was placed under surveillance. A GOVERNMENT BURIAL BILL. In reply to Mr. J-Talbot, Mr. CROss stated that the President of the Council would bring in a bill this session relating to burial grounds in England and Wales. A FUGITIVE SLAVE RESTORED TO HIS OWNER. In reply to Sir G. Campbell and Mr. Cowen, Mr. Bournes said the Government had received a report from the Admiralty detailing the facts under which a fugitive slave taken on board her Majesty's ship Shark at Jeddah had been restored to its owner. It did not appear that the slave had been ill-treated, or that he was likely to be illtreated, in consequence of his attempt to escape. No reporc had yet been received from the consul. Sir G. CAMPBELL gave notice that he would take an early opportunity of calling attention to the matter. JLHB TURKISH LOANS OF 1854 AND 1855. In answer to a question from Colonel Mure, the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the Government bad to provide for the payment oj the coupon of the ) 855 Turkish Loan this month, but the Turkish Go- vernment had provided the full amount required. Her Majesty's Government had taken steps to fulfil their pledges with respect to the 1854 loan, and the repre- sentatives of France and this country would act in con- cert together on the subject at Constantinople. SIR HENRY ELLIOT'S RETURN. In answer to Sir G. Campbell, the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that Sir H. Elliot had not been re- moved from Constantinople as a mark of the displeasure of the Government; but, on the 22nd December, Lord Derby, in a despatch addressed to Lord Salisbury, said, In the event of the Porte persisting in their refusal and the Conference failing, your Excellency (Lord Salisbury) will of course come away, and it will be desirable, in that case, that Sir H. Elliot should also come back to England to report on the situation, leaving a secretary in charge of the embassy." Nothing was said about the Government being dissatis- tied with the conduct of Sir H. Elliot, and on the failure of the Conference Sir Henry left, leaving the embassy in charge of a charge d' affaires. He had not seen the reply made by Sir H. Elliot to the deputations who waited upon him at Constantinople, but nothing had reached the Foreign Office that required any notice to be taken of the matter by the Government. ENGLAND AND THE PORTE. Mr. W. E. FOKSTER remarked that on the 2nd of January Lord Derby wrote a despatch to Loid Lyons, in which he stated that he had told the French Ambas- sador as long ago as last summer that he had warned Musurus Pasha that the Porte must not expect any material assistance from England if she went to war with Russia. No such despatch was contained in the Blue Book published last year, nor in the Blue Books recently issued, and he wished to know if there was any objection to produce it. Mr. BOCRKK said the despatch would naturally have appeared in the Bine Book last year if there had not been reasons for keeping ii back. The circumstances were LCV changed, and tbe Government were quite ready to produce the despatch. HU: SE OCCUPIES' DISQUALIFICATION REMOVAL BIT.I.. Sir II. D. WOLFF moved the second reading of the House Occupiers' Disqualification Removal Bill. Sir. C. DILKE pointed out that the bill had not yet been distributed to members, and the debate was ad- journed until to-mortow SUNDAY CLOSING IN IRELAND. Mr. R. SMYTH moved the second reading of thA Sale of Intoxicating Liquornon Sunday (Ireland) Bill, and explained that it was substantially the^ame measure RS that whleh was passed last vear, ard that its object WHS to secure the entire closing of public houses in Ireland on Sunday. He stated that petition", bearing nearly ninety thousand signatures, had xlready been presented In favour of the measure, and if popular opirii a afforded any ground for legislation, no stronger cli<e had ever been established for the action of Parliament Mr O'SVT.LIVAN complained of the haste with which a measure of such great importence was being pressed forward. Mr. Mr RPIIY recommended that the measure should be referred to a Select Committee, so that there should be a full and complete and open inquiry upou the sub- ject. He opposed the second reading of the bill.— Major O'GOIC.IAX said the object of the hill was to Boherise the people of Ireland, but the way in which it proposed to do it was by allowing the people to drink everythinetbt-y chose on every day of the week, even including Sunday, so leng as they abstained from drink- ing in a public-house on Sunday. He regarded the measure as an insult to her Majesty herself (laughter) -and believed that the bill would not have the slightest tendeney towards soberising the Irish people. He gave it his cordial opposition. Sir M. H. BEACH did not believe that the bill would have much effect in rendering the people of Ireland more sober. He proposed for the Government, that the bill should be referred after it had been read a second time to a Select Committee, by whom it should be thoroughly considered and sifted, and adapted to the acknowledged difficult circumstances of town and country. It would not be necessary for the committee to enter fully ab initio into the whole question of Sunday closing in Ire- land, but they would take for granted the adoption of the principle of Sunday closing, confining themselves principally to the duty of taking evidence in reference to the Dublin metropolitan police district, Belfast, Cork, Limerick, and Waterford, in which there was the most danger of the measure not working satisfactorily. Mr. R. SMYTH accepted the proposal of the Govern- ment to refer the bill to a Select Committee. He hoped the scope of the reference would not be enlarged under any pressure that might be brought to bear. He had no fear as to the result. Upon a division, the numbers were:- For the second reading 194 Against 23 Majority. 1:1 The bill was accordingly read a second time and re- ierred to a Select Committee. VALUATIOarf?F PROPERTY FOR RATING PURPOSES. Mr. S. BOOTH moved for leave to bring in a bill to consolidate and amend the laws relating to the valua- tion of property for the purposes of rates and taxes. He stated that the bill would not be identical in all respects with the bill of last year. Under the existing system of valuation the property of the metropolis was valued for taxing purposes according to the Income tax scales, whereas in the counties the assessments were more liable towards occupiers. The present bill would? give the Government some control over the lists pre- pared by tne overseers, and would give a uniform scale of deductions. There would be a new valuation every five years instead of every seven, as proposed last year, and the bill would establish the right of appeal to the Hish Court of Justice direct from the Assessmi Com- mittee. He intimated that a highway bill was being prepared for throwing the charge for the maintenance of highways in equitable proportions upon the counties generally. Mr. WHITBREAD contended that the bill was based upon a short-sighted policy, and made no step in ad- vance of the measure of last year. Sir W. BARTTELOT was also afraid that the bill would not place the rating of the country upon a satisfactory footing. Mr. C. S. RBAn thought the speech of the President of the Local Government Board was a strong argument in favour of county representative boards. Mr. RATHPONE believed that no satisfactory progress would be made until a iioyal Commission was appointed to ascertain how a comprehensive measure might be safely carried out with the least disturbance of existing interest. Mr. STANSFELD was willing to assist the Government in passing that bill, but did not regard it as going far enough, or as a satisfactory instalment. After some observations from Mr. SAMUDA and Mr. S. BOOTH in reply, leave was given to bring in the bill. THE PATENT LAWS. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL obtained leave to bring in a bill for consolidating with amendments the Acts relating to letters patent for inventions. The bill proposed to I give the inventor provisional protection for a year, and longer if necessary, to enable him to carry on experi- I ments, but he would then he required to file a complete specification, which would be exaained by examines appointed under tbe bill. The law officer would then determine whether letters patent should be granted or not; and if the applicant or his opponent was disaatis- fied, an appeal to the Lord Chancellor was provided. The Lord Chancellor would also have power to declare a patent void if the invention was not put in practice within four years after the provisional specification. Facilities would be given to foreign inventors to take out patents in this country. The protection of letters patent wpuld be extended to 31 years, and the expense of obtaining them would be reduced one-half. The charge for renewal uo to seven years would remain aa at present, but would be Increased after that year. It was proposed further to increase the number of com missioners. Mr. DILLWYN objected to the bill on the ground that it would render the Patent Law nugatory and discourage inventors. Mr. Mi VOKLLA regretted that the tpnclency of the bill was to reduce the number of patents to a minimum, which he thought extremely undesirable. For every patent in England there were three or four in America, and they had proved most beneficial, and the reason was because America encouraged inventions and we did not. lvlr. SAMUELSON, and Mr. ANDKH -OX algoeriticise-I the proposals of the Attorney-General, after which leave was given to introduce the bill. FREE LIBRARIES AND MU SEUMS BILL. Mr. Mundella moved for leave to bring In a bill to facilitate the establishment of free libraries and museums and institutions for the teaching of science and art. LUNACY LAWS. Some other bills were introduced, and on the motion of Mr. DILLWYN a Select Committee was appointed to inquire into the operation of the lunacy laws. ThA House then adiourned at 12 55

HOUSE OF LORDS. TlJESDA Y.-The Lord Chancellor took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock REPLY TO THE ADDRESS. The Marquis of HERTFORD (the Lord Steward) at. tended, and stated that he had been desired to read her Majesty's gracious answer to the Address in reply to the Speech from the Throne, as follows" I thank you sin- cerely for your loyal and dutiful Address. I rely with confidence on your earnest consideration of the measures that will be submitted to yon, and I shall ever be ready to co-operate with you in your endeavours to promote the happiness and prosperity of all classes of my subjects." EXTRADITION OF CRIMINALS. Earl GRANVILLE rose to oall attention to the arrange- ment between this country and the United States for the extradition of criminals. It would be in the recol- lection of their lordships, he said, that last year Her Majesty's Government declined to surrender two men named Brett and Winslow unless a pledge was given by the United States Government that they should be tried for no other offence than that for which they had been surrendered. He was anxious to know, as Brett bad since been surrendered, how that surrender had taken place, and upon what conditions. He might also ask the Government how it was the question had not beea settled long ago. Lord DERBY, in reply, said:—I am glad the noble earl has put this question to me, because, although the papers are ready for presentation-indeed, I have just put them on the table-still it maybe convenient to your lordships and to the public and me to explain, in a few words, the position in which this business actually stands, Y ollr lordships will remember how the case stood last year. There was a prisoner whose extradition had been demanded, and who had been surrendered and put on his trial. While he was on his trial representations were made to her Majesty's Government that steps were being taken on the part of the United States Govern- ment to put him on his trial for a second offence, in the event of his not being convicted of the offence for which he was surrendered. The second offence was not in. cluded in the list of those offences in respect to which the prisoner's extradition was demanded. That raised the question of the construction to be put on the Extra- di tion Treaty, and led to a correspondence which formed the subject of a debate in your lordships' House. The Government of the United States did did not deny their intention of putting the man on his trial for the secood offence, but they parleyed with the question, and maintainad their right so to try him if they thought proper. Thte result of the discussion and correspondence was that as the two Governments could not agree as to the construction of the treaty there was no other course to pursue but to suspend its operation. In the mean- while the man in whose case the question arose was tried on the extradition offence, and I do not know what became of him. In August last a communication was received through the United States Minister to the effect that no steps had been taken or were intended to be taken with the view of putting the man on his trial for a second offence. In other Words, although the United States Government claimed a right under the treaty of which we did not admit the existence, they did not attempt to exercise that right. Thus the aspect of affairs was materially altered. The United States Government has made no attempt to maintain the construction which they had pet upon the treaty, and after that there has been no question at issue, nor will there be any until some par- ticular case arises. Under these circumstances there is no further reason for suspending the operation of the tleaty, and it remains as it was before. We still insist upon our construction; and pending negotiations for a new treaty, the old one remains In force. (Hear, hear.) BLUE BOOKS ON THE EASTERN QUESTION. Earl GPANvuiE rose to put a question to the noble earl the Secretary for Foreign Affairs of which he bad given him private notice. He had the other day expressed some alarm at the volu- minous character of the blue books which had been pre- sented on the Eastern question, and it might appear somewhat Inconsistent that he should ask for an addi- tion to them, more especially as the information the Government gave in many cases was most exhaustive. There was a despatch from the Foreign Office. dated llth November, 1876, which was as follows I have to re- quest your Excellency to correspond with this office while employed on the service of your special embassy, in a series of despatches numbered and docketed, and addressed to her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs." That despatch was signed Derby." It was well known that in carrying out such instruc- tions the noble marquis (the Marquis of Salisbury) would write very good despatches, and no doubt the Foreign Office clerk who accompanied him, and who had had considerable experience, would duly number and docket them. The question, however, was, why the title of the noble earl should appear in the Blue Book as Special Ambassador," while in the Queen's Speech he tumbled down to the more humble capacity of a Special Envoy." He was not anxious to have an answer to that question but what he wished to know was why the conversations, to which reference was made In the despatches, of the noble marquis with Prince Bismarck and with Marshal MacMahon and the Duke Decazes, did not appear in the Blue Book. Then, again, as to the con- versation with the Emperor of Germany. It had been stated that his Majesty observed that it was im- possible for Europe to accept the mere promises of the Porte, and that guarantees must be arranged. It might be presumed that Prince Bismarck held the same lan- guage, and probably the subject was much further de- veloped. If it was important that the public should know the view of the Courts of Austria and Rome, it was certainly not less important that those of Germany and France should be known. He (Earl Granville) wished to know whether the whole of the despatches which recorded the conversations in question were of too confidential a character to be published, and if so, he would not press the matter further. (Hear, hear.) Lord DERBY, in reply, said it appeared to him that the noble earl had suggested by anticipation the answer which, with some experience of office, be might have felt it would be his (Lord Derby's) duty to give. He could only say that the publication of conversations of a private character, which had been held on the part of her Majesty's Government with foreign statesmen must be in the discretion of the Secretary of State and the Government It was for them to consider whether the publication of these statements would be in the nature of a breach of confidence, or whether it would be cal- culated to cause difficulty. In the cases referred to In which the conversations were published, the Government did not consider that it would be unsatisfactory to those concerned to let them be made public: The con- versations Lord Salisbury had with Prince Bismarck and Marshal MacMahon were of a more confidential character, no doubt, and he had no hesitation in saying that if they had given them to the public they would have done that which would have caused some un- pleasantness and breach of confidence. That was the reason why the despatches were not given. THE CAUSES OF INTEMPERANCE. The following peers were named as members of the Select Committee appointed on the motion of the Arch- bishop of Canterbury, to inquire into the causes of In- temperance in this country:—Tbe Archbishop of Canter- bury, the Archbishop of York, the Duke of Westminster, Earls Shrewsbury, Shaftesbury, Belmore, Onslow, Mor- ley, Kimberley, and Limerick, Viscount Gordon, the Bishops of Peterboro', Exeter, and Carlisle, and Lords Penrhyn, Aberdare, wnd Cottesloe. Their lordships adjourned at 20 minutes to six o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS. TUESDAY.—Tbe Speaker took the chair at four o'clock. MR. CHAMLJEIILAIN AND THE LICENSING LAWS, Mr. OHAMBKRLAIN intimated that he would defer his resolutions on the licensing laws from the 6th until the 13th of March. XEAV MEMBER. Mr. De!ahunty took the oath and his seat for the county of IVaterford. in the room of Sir J. Esmonde, deceased. The hon. gentleman was cheered on proceed- ing to the table to be sworn. PROTECTIVE DUTIES IN MATTTA AND CEYLON. In reply to Mr. Potter, Mr. LOWTHER said objection had from time to time been taken against the imposition of taxes on grain and other articles of food imported into the island of Malta, and Lord Carnarvon intended to institute an inquiry into the matter. An inquiry bad been made with regard to the duty on rice im- ported into Ceylon, but until the report bad been re- ceived no action could be taken in the matter. THE FALL OF MIDHAT PASHA. In answer to Mr. Mills, Mr. BOURKE said that no de- tails as to the Apposition of Midhat Pasha had been re- ceived by the Foreign Office, but an intimation had been received that the change of Minister wonld not involve a change of policy, and th^.t the propose re- forms would be immediately carried out. THE RAILWAY ACCIDENTS COMMISSION. In answer to Mr. H. Samuelson, Mr. OROSS SAID *HE report of the Railway Accidents Commission vvoiiifi ',e laid on the table as rapidly as possible. He had not ie- celved a separate report from Mr. Ayrton, one of the commissioners, who was present when the official report was drawn up, but who did not sign it. OFFICERS OF THE ROYAL ENGINEERS AT CONSTANTINOPLE. In reply to Sir H. Havelock, Mr. HARDY said he had no objection to give the rank and names cf the «evtr*l officers of the Royal Engineers who had, since August, 1876, been sent to Constantinople and other parts of European and Asiatic territories of Turkey, but as they were employed on behalf of her Majesty, he did not think it would be right to state the nature of their special duties. The services of these officers were not solicited by the Turkish Government. THE MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT. In reply to Sir C. ADDKHLEY said his attention had not been called to the case of the Irtoo, of Whitehaven, which was alleged to have arrived iu Bristol, with ore, In an over-loaded condition, but lie would cause inquiries to be mid'1 He was not awnre that on the 30th nit. there were 29 vessels in the West, India Docks, none of which had a load-line painted npon them. It was prohahle that there might be mssj vessels lying in the docks which would not be rel).f1} to go to sea until the spring, aud it was not necessary t' hr the load-line should be painted until the ship vasrea'iy for sea. Indeed, in some cases the load-line might he altered every voysae. He believed that the Act cf list session *o far been very gen(-.T}>My observed. It wai true that, part of the cr, "f th» Ois ore WPVI' iionl hv the magistrates at Weymouth for refusing to proceed to sea. The vessel had, however, since been inspected, and the surveyor re- ported that the masts were not seaworthy. The im- prisoned men were, therefore, immediately released. The Board of Trade had no power to grant compensa- tion to them, but there was ample power under the Act to enable them to recover compensation from the owners of the ship. LEGISLATIVE PRECAUTIONS AGAINST R ATL WAY ACCIDENTS. In answer to Mr. Bentinck, Sir C. ADDERLEY said the report of the Commission on Railway Accidents was only issued last week, and it was premature to state whether the Government would attempt legislation based upon it during the present Session. THE PREMIER'S MANSION HOUSE SPEECH. Mr. SAMUELSON I wish to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the telegraphic despatch of Lord A. Loftus to the Earl of Derby, dated Yalta, November 2nd, 1876, containing the following woids :— He (the Emperor of Russia) hoped that the unjust suspicions entertained in England of his policy would be discarded. He pledged his honour that he had no views of conquest or of Constantinople, and repeated this declaration several times in the most solemn man- ner; and to the reply of the Earl of Derby that Her Majesty's Government have received with the greatest satisfaction the assui ance which the Emperor has given you;" and, "You will speak in this sense both to his Imperial Majesty and Prince Gortschakoft;" and whether the contents of those despatches had been communicated to the Prime Minister on or before the 9th of November? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER: Yes, sir; of course they had. (Ministerial cheers and laughter.) THE SLAVE TRADE. In answer to Mr. Anderson, Mr. BOURSE stated that owing to the critical condition of Turkey during the past eight months the negotiations for a treaty for the suppression of the slave trade had been suspended. Her Majesty's Government had also been in communica- tion with the Government of Egypt on the subject, end a convention had been prepared, and would in all pro- bability go out to Egygt in the course of a few days. Negotiations on the subject had been in progress with the government of that country during the last 18 months, but they had been suspended. THE INDIAN FINANCE. Mr. FAWCETT moved That a select committee be ap- pointed to inquire into the finance and financial ad- ministration of India." He explained that his object was to renew and complete the inquiry instituted six years ago at the instance of Mr. Gladstone. Sir G. CAMPBELL seconded the motion. Mr. SMOLLETT moved, as an amendment, That this House, viewing with alarm the financial deficits in our I Indian Administration during the last ten years, aud the constant additions made to the debt of Indiaduring that period, is of opinion no new public works should bo undertaken which would necessitate the raising of fresh loans either in India or in England, and that In order to place the finances of India on a satisfactory basis the distinction which is now made between ordinary and extraordinary expenditure should be discontinued." Mr. MELLOR seconded the amendment. A lengthy discussion ensued, and the House divided, when the numbers were:— M For the original motion 12d I Against 1^3 Majority 50 ..I- The amendment was then necativctt witnout a division. The other business was disposed of, and the House adjourned at 2.15.

MONOK, THE SPIRITUALIST. At Bow street Police Court, last. week, an officer oi the Huddersfield constabulary applied to Sir Jas. Ing- ham to back a warrant against the spiritualist Monck who had escaped beyond the jurisdiction of the Hud- dersfield magistrates during the appeal to the High Court of Justice.

NO ALLUSION TO THE INDIAN CYCLONE IN THE QUEEN'S SPEECH. (From the Daily News.) Sir Stafford Northcote might probably have made a much more ingenious and clever defence. He might have tried to find plausible precedents to convince the House that when a Government can do nothing it is considered becoming to say nothing. He might have argued rhetorically that the calamity was too vast for formal words. He might have objected, sa an orator once actually did in the House of Commons, to any recorded words of regret which might seem like an impugning of the wisdom of Provi- dence. There are probably statesmen who would rather seek for any reason than acknowledge a downright omission and blunder. But the Chancellor of the Exchequer is too ingenuous for such ways. He honestly owned the error, and we have no doubt he sincerely believed that it is possible for a body of men to be profoundly impressed by a calamity and at the same time to forget all about it. The truth is that human sympathies, I ike human imagina- fciong, must acknowledge somewhat narrow limitations. It Is not possible to feel in exact proportion to the numbers of tiie victims. The loss of a hundred dis- tant lives would probably touch the sympathies as keenly as the lose of a thousand. We do not, there- fore, believe that it was owing to any lack of the feelings of sympathy and pity on the part of our ministers that, the victims of the cycloi e were for- gotten. Bnt it is odd to learn that so grave a docu- ment as the Queen's speech is liable to become thus painfully defective if some Cabinet minister in charge of a particular department should happen to be absent, when the document is being prepared. One might have thought that his very absence would only have made his colleagues more anxious to see that proper account was taken of all that- belonged to his department. It is, perhaps, still more strange that, having remembered India at all, the ministers at home should have forgotten the cyclone. Had their preoccupied minds allowed of no piace for Indian affairs it would have been less sur- prising, and, we think, hardly more to be regretted. But we have Sir Stafford Northcofe's candid assurance of the fact that the ministers, while actually taking account of Indian business, forgot, all about the cyclone until Lord Salisbury came home to remind them. We must all respect the Chancellor of the Exchequer's candour, and we must own too that his avowal called fer some courage. j

THE SLAm". CASE.—At Bow street Police Court, last week, Mr. Lewis, on behalf of Professor Lantes- ter, asked that proceedings in the Shde case might stand over. The application was granted. THE DARCY LEVER COLLIERY EXPLOSION.—Mr, Diokinson, Government inspector, paid another visit to the Darcy Lever Colliery on Feb. 9th. It is the general opinion that the pit will not be safe to descend for at least three weeks. AN UNFORTUNATE MISTAKE.—A curious case of mis- taken identity has occurred at Stranraer. A woman was tried at the Burgh Court for the theft of a cock, which was produced dead in court. The evidence against the woman seemed clear, and she was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment. She strongly protested her innocence, and cried bitterly. Shortly after the Court was over the cock, supposed to have been stolen and killed was found alive. The poor woman cannot be liberated from prison unless by a warrant of the Home Secretary, signed by the Queen.—Glasgow Herald. A ROYING OPERATIC SiNGER. — A correspendent says:—Madame lima di Murska, the operatic singer, seems to like a roving life among colonists. She has been doing Australia, from whence she went to San I Francisco, and has now settled there. She left England about three years ago, and has already mar- ried and buried two husbands. The first she married in 1875. He died six months after. She married another Australian last year. He also is dead. There are still, however, many susceptible hearts in San Fran- cisco which would run any risk to possess such a aing- insr bird as Madame lima. The vp.rcl of the Queen's Inn, Bollington, Cheshire, was on Sundny precipitated into the river Bollin,which runs beneath, together with set oral outhouse", by an arch giving way. A servant girl was carried into tho river, but rescued unhurt. t c Dr. Sand witb, who has just returned from the relict works in Servia, spoke at Liverpool, on Monday in favour of an independent, Government for the Turkish provinces. He blamed the Foreign Office for trim- raing to Turkey in the face of known atrocities, and maintaining Turkish integrity and independence.

THE OFFICIAL PAPERS ON THE EASTERN QUESTION. A number of official papers were laid on the table of the Houses of Parliament on the Stll instant. The following are summaries of the more important of them: On the 1st of last month Sir Henry Eiliot writes to Lord Derby that Lord Salisbury having been instructed to tell the Porte that* Great Britain would afford it no suppoit in case of a rupture with Russia, the fleet had been ordered away, but with the chance of the Confer- ence closing.in a manner to cause exasperation at Con- stantinople, two ships should remain. On the 26th of December Mtdhat Pasha wrote to Lord Derby justifying the resolutions, dangerous, but un- fortunately inevitable, which the Ottoman Government were forced to adopt, finding itself impelled by a sense of self-preservation and honour to take a decision con- trary to the views of the European Powers. On the 4th January. Lord Derby communicates to Lord Salisbury the substance of his interview with the Turkish Ambassador, during which he expressed the displeasure of Her Majesty's Government at Turkey's conduct in refusing the demands of the Powers. Both Musurus Pasha. and Odian ^Eflendi replied that the Sultan must bow to the will of Providence, but that Turkey had 600,000 men under arms, and was not afraid to face a campaign with Russia. On the 8th of January Odlan Kffendi called on Lord Beaconsfield, who used like language to that of Laid Derby, and warned Odlan that if Turkey comes to a wafwltb Russia the latter would eventually be the victor, and he therefore strongly advised an acceptance of the modified propositions. Nineteenth Protocol, Last Sitting, 8th January.— One of the Ottoman plenipotentiaries read.- a lengthy address, examining the modified propo-nls. Lord Sr\li-- bury remarks that the nomination of Vails, asked by the Powers, is not conceded. Safvet Pasha say That is true. General Tgnatie/r a'k" himself why the Perse accepted the Conference at all. Safvet says to consider the inconsistencies existing between thvse proposals and its own legislation. After discussion, Lord Salisbury says as soon as a refusal to grant, these guarantees is recorded the mission of tbe Conference is complete, und its existence can no longer be proiouged. -^eueral Ignatleif makes a lorm-tl addivss, very strong in I tone, and substantially as given in tho telegrams, Count Zichy adheres to what Lord Salisbury has ex- pressed. Safvet Pasha expiessea surprise at the re- plies, and tries to prolong the discussion; hut forti Salisbury says Turkey gives promises*, not guarsr.tivs, J and the plenipotentiaries refuse to prolong tbe discus- sion. Lord Salisbury, writing to Lord Derby from Tera on January 20th. announces that the Conference met to- day for the last time. The two points refused by the Porte were the only measures left providing a "gun- rantee that the promises of the Porte would be per- formfd. Without them any list ol ref'ornis, however promising, would have hpenexpo-ed to the fate which ,,te attended the Hatti Huyumonn of 1850. A vdieme fro-n which these two guarantees were omitted would hare been illusory. Jau. 9.—Lord Derby to Lord Salisbnry I have your telegram of the 8th, saying the Grand i ier believes he can count upon the assistance of Lord Derby and Lord Benconsneld. Musm ua Pasha has been warned in the strongest manner to the contrary." .Tan. :?G,-Lord Salisbury, iu a despatch to Lord Derby, describes the grantl council, and says there is no dutibt that the Sultan was anxious to accept the terms of the Powers, but the Grand Vizier was resolved upon resis- tance, and brought the proposals before the coiiind1. in such form that their rejection was a foregone conclusion.

THE PREMIER'S GUILD FT ALL SPEECH. (From the Standard.) So much has been said of the evil consequences of the Prime Minister's speech at the Guildhall on Óc 9th of November, that it may be as well to direct nt- tension to the dispatch from Lord A. Lol'tus, in which he disposes of the allegation that the Moscow speech of the Emperor of Russia was a reply to Lord Beacons- field's language at the Lord baitquet. information which has reached me from a reliable source," Lord Augustus writes, "I am assured that his Imperial Mc-jesty had no cognisance of the Earl of Beaconsfield's speech at the time when be addressed the deputation in that capital." We trust this conviction will prevent the reiteration of statements which ought never to have been made. Lord Derby found himself obliged to refer to the subject in the House of Lords, in con- sequence of remarks which fell from the leader of the Opposition; but let us hope that we have now hoard the last of it. Passing: from this merely personal matter, we would direct the attention of our readers to a despatch, from Lord Derby, dated three days before Christlllas--that is, just before the Conference met-Ill which he clearly defines the spirit in which this country entered into the negotiations at Constantinople. Her Majesty's Government have decided," writes the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, "that England will not assent to, or assist in, coercive measures, military or naval, against the Porte. The Porte must, on the other hand, be made to under- stand. as it has from the first been informed, that it can expect no assistance from England in the event of war." As this is the policy we have con- sistently advocated in these columns, we have no need to express our approval of the course pursued by the Government. It is that dictated by a true un- derstanding of British interests. There is but one other point to which we shall now advert—the dispatch addressed by Lord Derby to the Mar mis of Salisbury. Our readers will observe that the Foreign Secretary approves in emphatic language, in the ime of the Queen and of the Cabinet, of the acts 1'! our special representative at the Conference, and thus ex- tinguishes the foolish hopes entertained and expressed in some quarters that it might be possible to make political capital for the Liberal party, by assuming that the language held by Lord Salisbury in Constanti- nople was not altogether agreeable to the whole of his colleagues in Downing street.

THE PROSPECTS OF THE SESSION. (From the Times.) If the legislative projects recommended In the Royal speech are few in number, and out of them only a minority can be regarded as likely to be seriously pressed, the question naturally arises, how will the time of Parliament be occupied during the session ? It is tolerably evident that we shall have interminable discussions on foreign affairs. More than half the paragraphs in the speech from the throne refer to the Eastern question, and they are occupied with nothing but a retrospective review of what had happened up to the close of the Conference. The preliminary observations of the leaders of the Opposition, supplemented, as they were, by the irrepressible eloquence of the Duke of Argyll and Mr. Gindstme, give us an assurance that these discussions will be neither brief nor lifeless. Everything that has been done abroad will bo can- vassed. Everything that has been said at home will be remembered. The Royal speech it- self suggests topics for animated discussion. Her Majesty declared that while proceeding to act in the mediation between the Porte and Servia she thought, it right, after inquiry into the facts, to denounce to the Porte the excesses ascertained to have been committed in Bu garia, and to express her reprobation of their perpetrators. There is, we be- lieve, some little inexactness in the statement that this denunciation was contemporaneous with the media- tion, but it is more important to observe that the do- nunciation itself extended to the actors as well as to the excesses. There was no mere reprobation of the perpetrators of these offences; there was an authorita- tive demand that they—and they were specifically named —should be punished. They have not been punished, the most impudent statements have been made to exonerate them from blame, and the Royal speech thus invites the question whether they are to be left in the enjoyment of their present impunity. Another challenge is suggested by the paragraph explaining the object of the policy pursued by the Government, it is said that this object has throughout, been to tain the peace of Europe, and to bring about the be er government of the disturbed provinces, withoutintring- ing upon the independence and integrity oilhe C ttoman empire." It is really difficult to understanc how tnis traditional phrase has contrived to survive Lord k.ahs- bury'smission to Constantinople. Perhapstheparagraph was drawn up before the arrival of our plenipotenti- ary, and there was a difficulty in aiteriog what had received the sanotion of the Soveieign. As it is, it reads like a declaration on^tbe part of a philosopher of Laputathat the object of a series of his experiments was to make an omelette without brenMng an egg. It is needless to go any further to show what scope for criticism is afforded by the management cf the Eastern question, and, as every day brings some new develop- ment of it, we shall not be without fresh matter for future discussions. The evidence furnished by the Royal speech and the debates on the addresses that we are all occupied with one subject may not unfairly be described as overwhelming.

Thtae who ascribe ill qualities to others are apt to be guilty of the same themselves. THE BEST THIXG,—Take things as they come—take them easy—and take a good many of them. An inquest was held at Middleton, a few days ago, by Mr. Molesworth, on the body of a man who had com- mitted suicide while suffering from small-pox. in answer to the coroner's request that the jury would view the body, the foreman of the jury objected to do go, and his attitude in the matter elicited from the coroner the statement that no disease can be taken from a dead body." The coroner was, however, v-illing to "excuse the jury from going through the uaufd form, and the whole of them availed themselves or hi* offer.

MR. EDWARD BAINES' TESTIMONY TO TOTAL ABSTINENCE. At a large and enthusiastic meeting held at Exeter Hall, on the 7th February, under the presidency of hif Henry Thompson, the eminent surgeon, to consider the question of moderate drinking, Mr.E. Baines, the vener- able and esteemed ex-Liberal member for Leeds, was one of the principal speakers. He said:- I will state ray own personal experience of total abstinence, and respect- fully ask for it the consideration of those friends of temperance who would class themselves, or not be offended at being classed, as moderate drinkers. I re- member when I thought a glass of good sherry must necessarily help digestion, and that a glass of old port must pour strength into the veins. Hxppily for my- self, I was led to put the matter to the test of an experiment, and it will be In accordance with the ob- ject of this meeting that I should tell the result. Wish- ing to save a man addicted to drink from impending ruin, and knowiug that peisuasion would be useless without example. I resolved to try totfd. abstinence foe a month. binding myself just as well at the end of tho moiith as at the beginning, I repeated the experiment for a second mouth, »nd with the same satisfactory re- sult. It then oconried to me that it would be useful to know hew long I could dispenfe with strong liquor without affecting my health aid strength. But I had to wait a long tirae for the final conclusion of this ex- periment, and 1 have not yet arrived at it. (Laughter and cheers.) More than nine and thirty years have passed, and I declare that I have the same consciousness of sound health, though not of youthful elasticity, ia the year 1S77 that I had in the year 1837. (Lond applause.) I find that He who made the human frame,' made it so wisely that it does not need the stimulus 'if beverages which, when taken in excess. blind thereaBff, influence tho blood, sow the saeds of diseas*, aid imoloutan uncononer&blo cr- "leg for the fatal prison. To the doctor it FpeakR volumes when I say thai I never sit down to table without an appetite, and never rise from bed with a headache. After many years editorial and political work. I was called at, the f!ge of fifty-nine to enter Parliament, where I spent fifteen years in charge of the business of a great borough, and taking interest in the concerns of the empire through c'jveral eventful Parliaments. (Applause.) Tv hen I entered the House cf C mmons I wastcid by one of my predecessors that I should not be ab!" to go through the business without tie b,1p of vine, (l aughter.) My judicious medical adviser knew be^-W. He did not recommend any alcoholic dris-.k, and oniy laid upon me one injnnct-on—namely, that whate- t-r late hours tbe House might krwp, I should eo"cry night be in b-d seven hours The advice was worth more to m" than all the wine in London docks. (Loud chee-s ) Not one glass of wine or ale ever touched my lips, and in consequence— not in spite of it, but In co: sequence—- I say I was able to do as much work as any man in tho FIoUze. (llenewed cheeis.) I left Parlia- i 0 it absolutely unscathed; all but uaworn. I (j¡-d scarcely say that this simple -statement owes whatever value it may possess to tbe fact that it dis- proves the nee- ssify or usefulness of alcoholic drinks to the human frame, and therefore to men in genera!, as well as to me. For I sin an ordinary and average per- son. I thick my constitution is sound, but not parti- cularly strong, and I am as fair a subject for experiment as Dr. Richardson himself could desire. If these drinks were necessary to make blood, or muscle, or nerve, or sinew, or hone, I must forwalltof them have experienced constant deterioration, and by this time have wasted away. If thty even imparted cheerfulness, or inspired thought, or kindled aflai t:on,I must withoutthem h ve dried up into a log. How can it be accounted for that, well advanced in t-he eighth decade of life.my pulsebeata as firmly, that I walk up hill nearly -is fast, and that I play with my grandchildren as merrily as ever? If any propositions are beyond question, they ure treoe- that wine is the most seductive of drinks, and that the thirst for it grows stronger with indulgence. There- fore, the moderate drinker, if he continues mrderate, has every day to put a constraint upon hi,; se!t and to deny himself in that which he enjoys most keenly, He is constantly tempted to go bej'ond moderation into < x- ce's, atid without knowing the boundary line wbq'e safety ends and danger begins. (Hear, hear ) I rut him on the horns of this dilemma. If his enjoyment, of tho cup iu preat, his darger in tasking it aad his pain in leaving it are proportionately great. If, on the contrary, his enjoyment is trifling, why, for a tailing pleasing, should he ruu any risk at all? One word more to tho moders,tj drinker. By taking strong liquors he not only continues in danger himaolf, but he sets an example that may he fatal to others. A professional gentle::■■an ucefollowed me at a temperance meet'ug, and said that be was ob'er than I was, yet he brd lived as a moderate drinker. He thought th'3 redly was conclusive. But, it was not. Re died a moderate drinker, but I dare not tell how many" of his children became confirmed drunkards. Could ha have foreseen this, he would not for worsts have touched the drink. I fear there are not many families in England from which the demon of intem- perance has not selected one or more victims, and it is said ohat the annual sacrifice of precious lives and souls by this vice may be reckoned by scores of If this he so, is it considerate, Is it humane, is iti Christ an to continue the practice which leads to issues so dreadful? (Loud cheers.)

THE INFLUENCES OF SCHOOL LIFE. (From the Daily News.) School Hfe, with many good points, has the bad one cf leading boys to imitate each other, till they Jack the individuality which can make its mark in life, and carve out its separate path. Therefore, to send. a lad to school, aud to let him pass the age of fifteen there, without turning his attention in a. special direction, is to give him a fair chance of growing up as a loafer, as a person to whom em- ployment will never somehow come. When a man reaches his majority witboui a profession, or any thought of a special profession, he is in rather a peril- ous situation. He is too old to submit readilv to the first drugery of commerce, and he has probably ac- quired a confirmed taste for amusement which will never leave him. He vaguely thinks that. he would like to "trythecotoniep," likeltexGascoiunein George Eliot's novels, but he knows just as much about tha colonies as he has learned at school, and that in his cafe is next to nothing. He has a vague idea thit the colonist rides a series of foamingsteedsover a desirable grass country, that he hunts kangaroos, has abundance of sport, hnd is never expected to know anything. He makes up his mind to try New Zealand, writes a letterto some sporting authority to request information about the shooting and fishing, and starts with the blessing of his father, a new saddle, his favourite billiard cue, and a repeating rifle. In a year or two this promising emigrant returns with the intelligence that New Zea- land is slow," and expresses a desire to take orders. His intellect breaks down before the ordeal of a bishop's chaplain's examination, and now he fairly settles down to his career of an idler and hunter for secretaryships. The worst of it is that many speci- mens of this class of emigrant have made it vprv herd for an industrious, frugal, and energetic lad of the middle class or upper class to get a chance of employment in the colonies. Squatters, merchants, and even oatrlch farmers look askance upon a gentle- man," because their experience of gentlemen emigrants has been chiefly among the indolent class, who look first of all for sport, sporting companions, and amuse- ment. Squatters have even, it is said, come to take a rough but excusable pleasure in setting a youngster from the old country to the hardest and most distaste- ful work. He is left alone on an outpost of a station, to cook h's own food, wash his own linen, watch the flocks by himself, and keep his own herd against bears, or Apaches, or hostile black fellows. Of course, the dilettante shepherd soon tires of this, but. the young fellow who shows plllefc gets promotion, ends in attaining to a partnership, and so, without original capital, becomes one of those pastoral millionaires whom -Air. Disraeli spoke so sweetly of in last year's Parliament. Once the first difficulties are overcome, it is nn aavantage .to be a gentleman, and to have re- ceived an education which might not satisfy examiners, hut was not useless, for all that, in developing intelli- gence. But for all the less frequented paths of lifo, and for all that are not barred to honest dulnoss by examinations, an emly start is necessary, and the loungers, whom Sir Garnet Wolseley ridiculed, are probably as much tne victims of the parental disregard of this fact, as of their own languid natures.

The Alexandra Palace was offered for sale on Feb. 8, and bought in for £ -145,000, no bid reaching the re- serve price. At a meeting of the Falmouth Union Board of Guardians on the 1"L1 inst., a resolution, proposed by Mr. Councillor Kichards, and seconded by Mr. Webber, Mayor of F"lm,),], ,J, in favour of the admission of the representatives oi til press to the Dlee ings (If the board, was negatived^ by a majority of 24 against This Is the only Union in the west of England which prohibits reporters from attending its deliberations. Cn.\RCrF. OF IT.T,.TREATING, A DOMESTIC SERVANT.— Before the Slough magistrates on the 7th inst., R. Francis Morris, a farmer, living near Slough, and Janet Morris, his wi! p, were charged with unlawfully wound. ing Caroline Carter, aged 17, who had been in their em- ploy as general servant. The girl was so ill .hat it waa necessary for her to be seated; and a surgeon was in attendance with stimulants. She stated that she went into the prisoners' service in May last. iSinca then the female prisoner had continu- ally beaten and pinched her. She pinched pieces of skin out of her arms, and ran a fork or a pair of scissors into her arms as many as a dozen times, till the blood ran down her sleeve. She had broken « poker across her back, and pulled nearly the whole of her bair out of her head. The male prisoner had kicked and horsewhipped her. Last Sunday she was again assaulted, and the small bone of her left arm was broken. She then ran away, and has been in the infirmary at Slough Workhouse since. The girl being too ill to continue her evidence, the case was adjourned, The prisoners were hissed at by the people in court.