The Aberystwyth Times Cardiganshire Chronicle and Merionethshire News

MONDAY. The House of Lords transacted little legislative business-; but a motion for a roturn proposed by Lord Penzance led to a rather interesting conversation upon the subject of the exercise of the royal prerogative of mercy under the advice of the Home Secretary and a fragment of the state of Ireland question was raised by the, Marquis of Clanritarde in asking for copies of certain reports presented to the Irish Government. Both returns were refused by the Government, and no division took place upon either subject. s I In the House of Commons notice was given of several motions which are to be made after Easter; and among these, not the least interesting was Mr C. Reed's intimation of his intention to propose a resolution upon.the subject of workmen's trains.—In answer to questions, Mr Gladstone declined to offer any com- Sensation to the widorw of the late Mr G. W. Gordon, of amaica, for the execution of her husband and promised that before the adjournment of the House the Solicitor-General would fix an early day for the introduction of the University Tests Bill.—Mr Monsell informed the House that the Govern- ment have under consideration the propriety of sending a small bodv of British troops to the Red River Settlement.—The Lord Advocate expressed the hope that he shall be able to bring in the Game Bill next Monday.-As soon as the House went into Committee upon the Irish Land Bill, Mr Disraeli rose to move an amendment in clause 3, the effect of which was to exclude from the damages to be paid to an outgoing tenant any compen- sation for loss sustained by quitting his holding, and to confine it to unexhausted improvements, and the disturbance of the course of husbandry. The right hon. gentleman did not confine himself to the explanation of this amendment or the exposition of the reasons which had induced him to propose it; but entered into a prolonged argument to show that the Government had by the alterations which they had themselves proposed so altered this Bill as entirely to change its character, and to de- ceive and mislead those who/like himself, had upon the second rea.dinj:t promised it a cordial support; and though he would not say that this had been donerto "gain the voices of some ground- lings," he did assert that its object was to please some few Irish members at the expense of .the support of two-thirds CJf the House. The clause as it stood would acknowledge that the occupier had a permanent interest in the soil which ti- vated-a principle which would operate injuriously upon ten- ants themselves, and if adopted for Irehnd must be extended to' Engffla and Scotland.—The Chancellor of the Exchequer was at pains to show that Mr Disraeli had never given his con- fidence to the Government, and that if he had it had not been betrayed by the amendments Which ministers sought to intro- duce. The granting of compensation for disturbance of occupancy he defended 'by reference to the state of Ireland, and the nècessi.ty of-giving some increased security • to. tenancy, and by that means to the property of the owner also, and of imposmg so penalty: upon harsh and capricious evictions. To the contentIOu of Jdr Disraeli that the proposal of he Government violated the principles of political economy, he replied that with this question, political economy, as the science of the accumulation and distribution of this wealth, had nothing to do, and observed with-PQCuliar emphasis, The prin- ciples of political economy! We violate them every day." After, a discussion, in which MrHawly, Mr Chichester Fortescue, ,and others took part, Mr Gladstone spoke. The preliminary ,observations of the Prime Minister were rendered noteworthy by the announcement that as the Government regard this as an exceptional, and hope that it may prove even a temporary measure, they are prepared to mark that sense of its character ■by providing that the clauses which are in restraint of freedom -of. contract shall not be passed in general terms, but shall remain iin force for twenty years, or "thereafter until Parliament shall otherwise determin-v." To the amendment under discussion. Mr 'Gladstone objected that if adopted it would break down one of the-three great pilla.Es of the Bill—the principle that the Irish tenant when causelessly evicted should be entitled to compensa- tion for,-his loss-,nthout which the measure would be a miser- able ruin. So far from foreseeing or intending the introduction of this measure into England and Scotland, the Government had drawn the Bill so as to render such a step az difficult as possible; &1i.d nothing could more directly tend to its facilitation than the proposal of the member t or Bucks. Air Disraeli's amendment was rejected by a majority of 76-.296 to 220. After the cheers with which the announcement of the numbers was received had subsided, the chairman was ordered to report progress.

TL-ESDAV. In the House of Lords, the business was unimportant.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TUESDAY. The Speaker took the chair at two o'clock. Sir H- S. ISBETSON gave notice that on the 3rd of May he should call attention to a report recently published on railway accidents, and should conclude with a motion. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL gave notice that on Friday next he should move for leave to bring in a Bill to dis- franchise the boroughs of Bridgewater and Beverley. Mr MOOEE gave notice that on the 3rd of May he should call attention to the condition of Ireland under the Government which the Union had established, and should move a resolution thereupon. Mr WHALLEY gave notice of his intention to ask the Government on Friday to repudiate the statement re- cently made by Sir P. Wodehouse in an address to the Assembly of Cape Coilony, that their policy was to sever -the colonies from the mother country. He should further ask what steps had been taken in regard to the recent dis- turbances at the Red River, to vindicate the authority of tile Imperial Government. The House then went into committee on the Irish Land Bill, and resumed the consideration of clause 3. Mr GLADSTONE said he proposed to alter the amendment which stood in the name of Mr C. Fortescue, so as to meet -the objections urged against it last night bySir R. Palmer :and others. The amendment he now proposed to submit was tothe effect that the tenant should be entitled to com. pensation for the loss which the court should find he had sustained in case of eviction. This proposal-together with the provision in clause 12 that particulars of the loss for which compensation was claimed should be furnished -would, he believed, remove all apprehension that unfair advantage had been taken of the clause. Mr CHAPLIN opposed the clause. Mr WALTER could not approve of the amendment, be- cause he looked .upon it as an ad vance upon the original demand made by the Prime Minister. Lord J. MANNERS also opposed the amendment. Mr B. OSBORNE supported the Government. Dr BALL said he had supported the second reading of the Bill, but he strongly objected to the changes which it had undergone since it got into committee. The debate was continued by Mr W. H. Gregory and MrlCorrance. Mr DELAHUNTY warned the House that unless they did full justice to Ireland they must at once repeal the Union and leave Ireland to legislate for herself. Mr C. FORTESCUE warmly supported the principle of compensating the tenant for loss of occupation, and said that it had always formed part of the Government scheme. Mr HENLEY objected that the Bill was ambiguous in its terms, and that it was very difficult to understand its scope. Sir G. COULTHART opposed the clause as amended. Col. BARTELLOT pointed out that the effect of the Bill would be to enable a landlord to evict any portion of his tenantry upon the payment of a consideration. Mr SAUNPERSON supported the proposition. Mr GLADSTONE, referring to the speech of Col. Bartellot, objected to the consolidation of the land in Ireland upon the FiliCipe of evicting the poor tenantry. The greatest loss to a mm was to lose his daily bread, and from such a loss as that it was the duty of the state to protect him. Mr G. HARDY said his objection to the Govern- cui; vl'(wiop was that it threw upon the landlord the obligation of providing the tenants with means of earning their daily bread when they were unable to make such provision to themselves. He believed the Government were creating expectations which could never be realized. He trusted that the dockyard artizans in the east of London would not feel an angry and vindictive feeling against the masters who had been compelled to discharge them. After some observations from Mr G. H. MOORE, Sir G. JENKINSON, Mr DOWNING, and Col. STUART KNOX, Mr GLADSTONE replied to Mr Hardy, and elicited a re- joinder from the right hon. gentleman. The committee then divided, and the numbers were— For Mr Gladstone's amendment, 293; against, 182; ma- jority, 111; the amendment was accordingly agreed to. Mr CORRANCE then moved an amendment, the effect of which was to provide that the compensation paid should not exceed five years' rent. Mr C. FORTESCUE opposed the amendment, which was supported by Mr BRUEN, and ultimately withdrawn. Progress was then reported, and the House resumed. The sitting was suspended at seven o'clock. The House resumed at nine o'clock. Mr P. TAYLOR moved for leave to bring in a Bill to restore the ancient constitutional practice of payment of members. He contended that not only was the payment of members ancient and constitutional, but for several centuries the universal practice of this country. Mr GLADSTONE said that this was one of several other political questions, like electoral districts, which were more alarming in appearance than reality. He was anxious that the less opulent members of society should be able to obtain a seat in the House. The remarks of the right hon. gentleman, however, were directed against the desirability of the proposed national payment. After some discussion the House divided—For the mo- tion, 24; against, 211; majority, 187. Mr Alderman LAWRENCE moved a resolution that the House Tax is unequally and unfairly assessed, imposes unnecessary restrictions upon the construction of buildings especially adapted for the working classes, and <raght to be repealed. Mr COLLINS seconded the motion. Mr STANSFELD said that the arguments of the hon. members applied rather to the assessment than to the incidence of the tax. The motion was withdrawn. Mr T. HUGHES rr.oved an address to the Crown that, in the statutes establishing the constitution of Shrewsbury, Harrow, Winchester, the Charter House, and Rugby, the qualification of 'membership of the Church of England for the governing bodies be omitted. Mr MOWBRAY moved the adjournment of the debjte, which was assented to on the suggestion .of Mr BRUCE. The other business was then disposed of; and the House adjourned at one o'clock.

ABERYSTWYTH. THE MILITIA.—The recruits of this regiment met on Monday for training, and paraded the town preceded by the able militia band under the leadership of Sergeant Kean, of the Barracks. HONOURS.—In reference to a paragraph which appeared in our last, Mr C. Williams, of Worcester College, Oxford, writes to say that winning a college tankard has little or nothing to do with rowing in the University Eight. CLEANSING OF THE RIVERS.-With reference to the letter of "Observer" in our last week's impression, we understand that the committee are sitting weekly and that as soon as the analysis of the samples of water, which have been forwarded to London, can be obtained, a report will probably be made upon the subject. Itmay be satisfactory to Observer" to know that the committee will be glad to rtceive any suggestions or information on the matter and any subscriptions to enable them the more effectually to prosecute their enquiry. EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF ARSON.—On Friday night, the 1st instant, two men residing at the village of Moriah, near Capel Seion, saw a large fire at a distance issuing from a spot near the farm of Wernddu, belonging to the Nanteos estate, and not far from the mansion. The men proceeded to Wernddu at once, and by the time they reached there it was approaching eleven o'clock. Having summoned Mr John James, the tenant, and his servants, they made for the scene of the conflagration, and found that two large haystacks of the value, it is said, of about 9100 each, had been destroyed. A messenger was despatched immediately to the town of Aberystwyth to acquaint Sergeant Evans, of the Cardiganshire con- stabulary, of the occurrence. The sergeant arrived with- out losing time, and went, accompanied with others, all over the premises at Wernddu, and also caused communi- cation to be made with all the police constables in the whole neighbourhood; but all their exertions proved fruit- less, as they failed to find traces of anyone who might have set the hay on fire. No tramps had been seen in the neighbourhood for some days past, and it was very difficult to account for the act. We understand that the hay was insured in different insurance offices to the amount of 2400. THE RIVAL MARKET HALLS.—We reported in our last the proceedings of a meeting which had been held at the Talbot Hotel to consider the question of having a new market hall for the town, in which some of the leading tradesmen and gentlemen of the town, including Capt. Phelp, of Nanteos, and Mr H. E. Taylor, of Aberllolwyn, took an active part. It was agreed to form a limited com- pany to carry out the object, and a committee was formed and a secretary elected, and promises were given for shares to a very large amount, to erect the building on the site of the present corn market, opposite the Talbot Hotel. However, since the meeting held last week, a number of influential men have met to consider the ad- visability of having the new market hall erected in a more suitable part of the town than on the site of the present hall, which has a most dilapidated appearance, and they fixed upon a large piece of open ground behind and join- ing the premises of Mr John James, merchant, in Terrace- road. It appears that some of the houses on the opposite side in Baker-street have been purchased with a view of enabling the promoters of this rival new market hall to have an entrance into the building from Baker-street, as well as from Terrace-road. We are informed that Mr James, merchant, has taken 100 shares in the undertak- ing, and several of his neighbours have taken a large num- ber. We have also been informed that Mr Pell and Mr Atwood and other gentlemen are in favour of this scheme. Thus there are two sites for the new hall now before the public, and the promoters of each are making great exer- tions; but it is our earnest hope that the gentlemen con- nected with the two schemes will immediately sink all differences, and endeavour to come to an agreement to have the new market hall erected on the best and most convenient site. No doubt there is a good deal to say in favour of both places, but it would be simply ridiculous to proceed with the erection of two market halls in a town of this size. Still, unless an arrangement can be at once effected between the two parties, we are likely to have two halls. On Tuesday evening there was a meeting held at the Talbot Hotel, when a large number of the pro- moters of the original scheme, including Capt. Phelp, Mr Thomas Jones, and others, attended. The chair was taken by Mr John Davies. After a long discussion as to the best way of proceeding, it was proposed by Sir Thos. Jones, and seconded by Mr Thomas Hugh Jones, That the local architects be invited to prepare plans of the proposed new hall, the cost of the building not to exceed £ 1,200;" which was unanimously carried. The friends of the other scheme have also held meetings for the purpose of furthering their undertaking. A G-ENTLEMAN KILLED, AND HIS WIFE SERIOUSLY INJURED.—On Monday evening last, about eight o'clock, a fatal accident took place near the village of Penparkau, under the following circumstances. It appears that Mr Alexander Richardes, of Penglaise Cottage, eldest son of Captain Richardes, of Penglaise, had taken a drive, ac- companied by Mrs Richardes and a younger brother of his, through the south gate, towards Llanrhystid, to enjoy a little fishing, and while returning in the evening, after having come through the turnpike gate at Penparkau, for some cause unexplained, the horse, which was a spirited thorough-bred, and which Mr Richards had lately pur- chased at a high price from a Mr Arch, took fright, and made off at a desperate pace. Mr Richards was in the act of pulling the reins to retard the progress of the animal, when the reins broke on the one side, which drew the horse to the hedge on the other side, and caused the carriage to be upset, and all its occupants thrown with great force to the ground. The animal set himself free from the broken carriage by kicking, and darted off to town with portions of the gear on. By this time some of the Penparkau people had arrived at the scene of the ac- cident, and found that Mr Richardes had been seriously hurt. There was a wound on his head, and it was oup- posed that the wheels of the carriage had gone over him, he was picked up almost insensible, and conveyed home at once. Mrs Richardes, who was greatly alarmed, was also very much hurt, having had her arm fractured in one or two places, if what we have heard is correct. Fortunately Mr Richardes's brother escaped unhurt. Mr C. Rice Williams, M.D., was immediately sent for, but all kis skill and ability failed to succeed in saving Mr Richardes, as that gentleman, who was not more than twenty-five years of age, died before the morning from the injuries he had received. Mrs Richardes is also in rather a precarious state, but we were very happy to learn that she is rather better. BOARD OF GUARDIANS, MO.IZD-tT. -Present: Mr William Jones, of Bryn Owen (in the chair); Messrs Philip Williams, John Jones (Commerce House), Joel Morgan, Lewis Lewis, J. R. Jones, Richard Roberts, David Stephens, Richard Jones, William Davies, W. Jones, John Richards, John Jones (Parcel Canol), D. J. Davies, J. R. Richards, and others. Finance.-The financial statement of the relieving officers having been examined, it was found that the fol- lowing sums had been spent in out-door relief during the past fortnight Mr John Ll. Griffiths, 296 19s.; Mr John Blackwall, R118 19s. 6d.; and Mr Lewis Lewis, 274 16s. lOd. There was a balance in the treasurer's hands due to the union of 954 13s. 6d. Inspection of the School.-The Clerk drew the attention of the Board to the visit which her Majesty's Inspector of Schools had paid to the school at the union during the week. His report upon the same was most favourable, and upon such report being submitted to the Government authorities a grant of £ 8 was made to Miss Morrell, the mistress of the school. Resignation of the Chairnian. -As this was the last meet- ing of the Board in the poor-law year, the following letter was read by the Clerk from G. W. Parry, Esq., the chair- man of the Board Llidiarde, April 2nd, 1870.—Dear Mr Hughes,—Monday next I believe, will be the last meeting of the Board of Guardians of the Aberystwyth Union appointed for the year 1869-70, and with its termination the period of my chairmanship will cease also. I cannot allow the opportunity to pass without asking you kindly to express to the Board my sense of the confidence re- posed in me, and to say how much I regret that my state of health has prevented me from performing my duties for the last six months. I have been constrained to absent myself in the hope of re-establishing my health, which, through God's bless- ing, I am glad to say is much improved. During the time I have presided it has been most pleasing to me to have witnessed the kindness and deference paid to me at all times, and the unanimity so strongly prevalent has been most gratifying. I shall ever take an interest in your proceedings, and I hope that the same kind and unanimous feeling which has prevailed at the Board during the nineteen years I presided, may be accorded to future Boards.—Believe me, yours sincerely, G. W. PARRY.— P.S. I shall also feel Obliged by your expressing to the Vice- Chairman my sense of his kindness in his punctual attendance to supply my place. The Vice-Chairman, Mr W. Jones, in a speech of con- siderable length, referred in most flattering terms to the kind services rendered to the Board by Mr Parry, ,expressed his sorrow that his health had been failing, and moved that Mr Hughes, the clerk, be directed to write to Mr Parry, to express to him the thanks of the Board for his faithfulness and great exertions at the Board during the long period he acted as its chairman. This was sec- onded by Mr Jones, Commerce House, and was carried unanimously.—Mr Philip Williams also moved a vote of thanks to Mr William .Jones, the vice-chairman, for his services to the Board, which was seconded by Mr D. J. Daviesi, of Llanrhystid Haminiog, the oldest guardian on the Board, and carried with aeelamation.—Mr William Jones then, in a few pithy remarks, proposed the thanlG of the meeting to the several officers of the Board, and this was seconded by Mr J. R. Richards. Mr Hugh Hughes, the clerk, responded in a very suitable speech on behalf of himself and his fellow officers, and there being no other business the proceedings terminated. It might as well be mentioned that in the following parishes a change has been made in the guardians of the poor Aberystwyth, Messrs John Ellis, lime burner, Thomas Samuel, currier, and Richard Jones, coal merchant, have been elected in the room of Messrs Evan Hugh Morgan, John Jones (Commerce House), and John Wat- kins, wine merchant, who refused to allow themselves to be re-elected; Mr Philip Williams having consented to act again was re-elected. In the parish of Bron-Castellau, John Jones was appointed instead of Daniel Thomas. In Clarach, Richard Jones instead of David Roberts. In Elerch, Edward Jenkins in the room of Thomas Evans. In Llangwyryfon, Stephen Ellis to succeed John Jones. In Tirymynach, Richard Morris instead of John Richards. In Vaenor Upper, Richard Hughes in the room of James Henderson. COMMISSIONERS' MEETING, TUESDAY.—Present: The Mayor (John Matthews, Esq.), Messrs J. P. Jones, Philip Williams, Charles Hackney, John Williams, J. Davies, W. Julian, John Jones (Commerce House), E. Ellis, J. Pell, Thos. Samuel, John Jones (Great Dark- gate-street) Mr W. H. Thomas, clerk; Mr D. Lloyd, assistant clerk. The By-I ws. -The amended copy of the by-laws, con- firmed by the Secretary of State, was laid before the Board. It was resolved that tenders for printing the same be invited to be sent in to the next meeting of the Board.

Aberystwyth Water Supply. My dear Sir,—I have to-day furnished my too-long-delayed report on this question. Amongst my papers I find the enclosed, the late Mr Duncan's original report, which I therefore return to you. I have asked that a copy of my report, as soon as the letter has been sent back from the Home Office, may be for- warded to you for the use of the Commissioners. Afer giving the matter my best attention, I say that you have the choice of two schemes, Domen and the Llanbadarn Flats, that both are food, and the probable cost of each equal, but the Domen is the est, because it is a gravitation scheme. Therefore, I pronounce in favour of Domen source of supply; and of the scheme pro- posed by Mr Duncan. At the same time I remark that if you found yourselves threatened with such serious parliamentary opposition against the Bill by landowners or others, that its success was endangered or doubtful, then you would be fortu- nate in having the Llanbadarn Flats pumping scheme and well as an alternative, on which you might fall back. I have shadowed out the conclusions of my report, in order that you may inform any of the Commissioners or others interested in the question, who may ask you how the matter stands. I hope in the course of next week that you will receive a copy of my report in full. (Signed), ARNOLD TAYLOR. The MAYOR-I suppose that there is no use in our talk- ingupon this subject now. The CLERK-I think not, until we have the report. The CLERK said that he had communicated with Mr Paul as to the purchase of the borers. The charge would be k25. Mr PELL moved that the borers should not be pur- chased, but that Jesse Morgan should be authorized to sink a well by Mr Roberts's field, near Railway-terrace. It would not cost more than 210. Mr JOHN JONES (Darkgate-street) seconded the motion. Mr JOHN DAVIES suggested that the mill leet, which was the property of the Commissioners, should be tried. This was the spot suggested by Mr Thomas Jones. He moved that this place be tried. Mr J. P. JONES seconded the amendment, and the original resolution having been withdrawn, the amend- ment was agreed to.

CORWEN. CONCERT.—A concert was given on Thursday night week at the National School Room in this town oy the Llan- saintffraid Brass Band, assisted by several well-known vocalists, the accompaniments being ably performed by Alaw Maelor." There was a good house, and the selected pieces were well-performed. We understand the proceed.- were devoted towards purchasing instruments for the band,

I CARNO. SHOCKING ACCIDENT ON THE CAMBRIAN RAILWAY.—A shocking accident occurred on the Cambrian Railway on Wednesday week, resulting in the death of a man | named named Thomas Davies. The deceased and another man named George were labourers, in the employ of the Cambrian Railway, and had been engaged in some work near the Talerddig cutting. The men were desirous of going on by the mixed train, due out of Machynlleth at 2.15 p.m., and while the train was passing at a slow rate, George leaped safely upon the steps of the break van and was followed by Davies. Davies unfortunately slipped, and the wheels of the break van and the carriages in the rear of the train passed over him. George did not miss his fellow workman uutil the train had proceeded for a short distance, and then, finding that Davies was not in the van, he left the train, and walking up the line found the deceased lying across the metals in a lifeless state. The enquiry into the cause of death was held at Carno on Fri- day, before Mr Edward Hall, and terminated in a verdict of "Accidental death." The deceased was a widower, and lived at Peastrowed.

CARDIGANSHIRE QUARTER SESSIONS. These Sessions were held at the Court House, Aber- ayron, on Tuesday, the following magistrates being present:—Mr C. M. Griffiths, Llwyndurris, deputy-chair- man; Colonel Lewes, Llysnewydd; Colonel Lewes, Llan- lear, Mr J. Boultbee, Plas-y-Gwernant; Captain Jordan, Pigemsford; Captain Lloyd Phillips, Mabws, Mr W. Jones, Glandennis; Mr J. P. Pryse, Bwlchbychan; Capt. B. Lewis, Aberystwyth, Mr Lewis J. Pugh. Abermade; Mr J. Hughes, Castelldu; Mr E. C. L. Fitzwilliams, Adpar, Mr F. G. P. Hughes, Alltllwyd, Mr J. Bon sail, Fronfraith, Mr C. R. Longcroft, Llanina, Mr C. E. Longcroft, Llanina, Mr T. H. Brenchley, Glanaeron, Mr J. Griffiths, Treforgan, Mr W. Jones, Llwyngroes. Mr W. H. Hall, Gellydwyll, Mr M. Jones Penvlan, Mr T. Davies, Cardigan, the Very Rev. the Dean of St. David's, Mr Herbert Evans, Highmead, Lord Vaughan, Birch Grove, &c.

RESIGNATION OF THE CHAIRMAN. Mr J. P. PRYSE said he had been requested by his brother, the Lord-Lieutenant, who was unable to be present, to read to the court a letter which he had received from Mr P. W. Parry, the chairman of the court resigning that position. [The letter, which was dated the 15th of March, was then read to the court. The writer said he had hoped that rest and cessation from public business would by this time have re-established his health and rendered him fit to resume his duties as chairman. This, however, was not so, and he resigned his post, which was given to him seventeen years ago. It was with the greatest reluctance that he severed a tie which had bound him to the Bench for so long a period, and he deeply regretted that his health rendered such a step necessary. In conclusion, he acknowledged the kindness and courtesy which were uniformly shown him by the magistrates.^] Mr Pryse said he was sure there was no one who did not feel the utmost regret and sorrow for the necessity Mr Parry felt for giving up the chairmanship. The office of chairmain was a very onerous one, and not a sinecure. It needed thoroughly impartial conduct in every sense of the word, and the gentleman holding it should be well versed in law, and ready to detect flaws which might exist in evidence before the court; he must possess that mark of a thorough gentleman, courtesy, not only to those who agreed, but also to those who differed from him. He thought they would all agree with him that in Mr Parry all those three requisites were to be found, and it was with utmost sorrow and deepest regret that he heard Mr Parry had been compelled to resign his office. He thefore moved that an address should be drawn up to Mr Parry from the court, thanking him for his upright conduct and the straightforward manner in which he had managed the business of the court, with a hope that he might yet be restored to a state of health. He could not do better than leave the chairman to appoint two or three gentlemen to draw it up. He would also suggest that it should be engrossed on vellum and framed, so that it might be perpetuated for ever. Mr FITZWILLIAMS seconded the proposition of Mr Pryse. As one of the old magistrates of the county, it had given him very great satisfaction to sit on the Bench with his learned friend, Mr Parry, who for some time travelled the same circuit as he (Mr Fitzwilliams) did, and was an agreeible companion and most excellent man. (Hear, hear.) The motion was carried nem dis., and it was also resolved that the address should be entered on the records of the court. The CAIRMAN named Dr Llewellyn (the Dean of St. David's), Messrs Harford and Price, and the Rev. R. Goodwin as the committee to draw up the address. Later in the day the CHAIRMAN informed the court that these gentlemen had met and discussed the matter en- trusted to them, and had drawn up a resolution, which was as follows:—"A resolution of the Cardiganshire Court of Quarter Sessions, 5th April, 1870. That this court desires to express its deep feeling of regret at the separation of a tie which has for 17 years connected this court with their chairman, Mr George Williams Parry, whose in- variable courtesy, thorough business habits, and strictly impartial performance of his duties have rendered him always a most valuable and efficient chairman. This court sypathises warmly with the causes which have rendered his resignation necessary, and ventures to hope that he may again be restored to health, and may, in his retirement, enjoy the satisfaction of feeling that during his term of office he gained the esteem of this Bench and the county at large." The resolution was approved of, and it was ordered to be entered on the records of the court, the chairman being requested to write to Mr Parry, and convey to him the resolution. The business of the court was proceeding, when the CHAIRMAN said he had just been informed by the Clerk of the Peace that as he was appointed as deputy to Mr Parry, it was a nice point whether he (Mr Griffiths) was deputy-chairman, and qualified to preside over the court. It was then decided to elect a chairman in the room of Mr Parry, and Mr E. C. L. Fitzwilliams took the chair vacated by Mr Griffiths; while THE ELECTION OF A CHAIRMAN took place. The DEAN of ST. DAVID'S (Dr Llewellyn) then moved that their late vice-chairman henceforth take the chair. The court had had experience of his qualifications for the seat, for he had presided over the court on several occa- sions, and he (the Dean) was sure the manner in which Mr Griffiths conducted the business of the county gave satisfaction to every member of the court. (Hear, hear.) Captain JORDAN seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously. Mr FITZWILLIAMS (addressing Mr Griffiths) said it gave him very great pleasure to be the medium through which the feelings of the court were to be conveyed to him, and he (the speaker) was sure Mr Griffiths would long merit the encomiums which bad been passed upon him. Mr GRIFFITHS then took the chair, and expressed to his brother magistrates his sensibility of the kindness they bad shown him, and of the honour they hod conferred upon him. He felt that he had a difficult task before him in following a gentleman like Mr Parry, but he should trust to the kind forbearance of the Bench until he gained experience. (Hear, hear.) Mr FITZWILLIAMS gave notice that at the next sessions he should move that the Court do appoint two vice- chairmen.

THE JOINT COUNTIES' LUNATIC ASYLUM, Plans for enlarging the asylum at Carmarthen for the counties of Carmarthen, Cardigan, and Pembroke were laid before the Court for approval, and application was made for E755 as the portion payable by the county of Cardigan for carrying out the work. The DEAN of ST. DAVID'S begged to move that the plans be approved and the sum applied for granted. Mr HARFORD seconded the resolution, and remarked the larger they made the asylum, the better accommoda- tion would there be for the public while the cost of main- taining lunatics would be less. Lunatics used to cost 14s. per week to maintain, but that charge had been reduced to 10s. The motion was carried, and it was ordered that steps should be taken for borrowing the necessary sum, under the provisions of the Act of Parliament.

THE ELECTION OF A GOVERNOR AND MATRON FOR THE COUNTY GAOL was the next business on the agenda paper, and the matter was deliberated upon in private, and on the re- assembling of the court, the CHAIRMAN said the magis- trates recommended that an adjourned session should be held on the 4th of May for the election of a matron and governor. The number of candidates had been reduced to three, Messrs. Frockden, Williams, and Elliot, and they would be requested to attend the court, with the under- standing that they would be allowed £5 for travelling expenses. They would also be asked to visit the gacS previously to the election. They also recommended that Mr George Williams be acting-governor until further orders, that Captain Freeman furnish a police-officer for duty at the gaol until further orders, and that 920 be spent in repairing the governor's dwelling. Three recommendations were adopted on the motion of Mr HARFORD, seconded by Mr L. PHILLIPS.

TRAGARON LOCK-UP. Colonel LEWIS (Llanllear) said he would move that S35 be granted for repairing the lock-up.

APPOINTMENTS. Mr J. G. W. Bonsall was re-appointed on the County Roads Board, and Mr P. Pryce was again chosen to repre- sent the court at the Wye Fishery Boord.

THE COUNTY PRISON, The Visiting Justices presented their quarterly report, sind said they were glad to have it in their power to state bhat under the management of Mr George Williams, it was satisfactory, and the cases of insubordination were less than last quarter.

MISCELLANEOUS. A letter was read from the Home Secretary stating that the police were in an efficient state, and had been so during the past year.—Another letter was also read from the Home Office pointing out that under the provisions of the Habitual Criminals Act, 1869, photographs of prisoners coming under the operation of the Act, who might be in the county prisons from time to time, were to be taken and sent to the office of the commissioners of police.—Mr Boultbee suggested that the photographing be let by con- tract.

RATES. A county rate of fd. in the pound, and a police rate of 4d. in the pound, were ordered to be made. The court rose at six o'clock.

FRIDAY. The House of Lords held but a very brief sitting, and the only I.IIlportant business which they transacted was the abandon- went of the amendment in the Peace Preservation (Ireland) to which the House of Commons had refused to assent. The first business at the early sitting of the House of Com- mons was the consideration of the amendments introduced by the Lords into the Poace Preservation (Ireland) Bill. Mr Glad- Stone recommended the House to assent to all the alterations except those which enlarged the power of grand juries as to the distribution of the compensation they might award for murders pr outrages, and provided for an appeal to the judge of assize if the claimants should not be satisfied with the presentation of the grand jury. These amendments, relating to taxation, vio- lated the privilege of the House of Commons, and therefore he *sked the House to disagree -with them. This course was Unanimously agreed to. When the House get into committee Opon the Irish Land Bill, the amendment in Clause 2, proposed Oy Mr Gladstone oil the previous evening, providing for the re- ■cognition of Ulster custom out of the province of Ulster, was put -ana at once agreed to. Upon Clause 3 a long debate arose as to the definition of disturbance of holding." When this had been got rid of, a verbal amendment proposed by Mr C. Fortescue fave Dr Ball an opportunity, of which he was quick to avail imself, to denounce vehemently the policy of granting compen- sation for loss sustained in quitting a holding, which he alleged "Was not a part of the original measnfe, Mr Gladstone contested thii construction of the clause as first drawn, and described Dr Bill's address as a piece of brilliant declamation; while lr Disraeli supported the interpretation of the learned member for Dublin, and claimed for his remarks the merit of natural elo- quence. At the same time he declared that the amendments on this clause of which the Government had given notice would amount to the proposal of a new Land Bill, and denounced it as a measure which w.(gtil(I be most pernicious to the public wel- fare. At this point Sir R. Palmer interposed as a mediator, and the verbal amendment was agreed to, leaving the question of principle, raised by Dr Ball, to be decided on Monday. Im- mediately afterwards the sitting was suspended. When the House re-assembled at nine o'clock Mr Fawceit moved his reso- lution, approving the memorial recently presented to the Prime Minister by the authorities of Trinity College, Dublin, and urg- ing the Government to introduce a measure which shall open the- emoluments and honours of that institution to all students, with. out reference to their religious belief. The motion was seconded "by Mr Pluuket, the junior member for the University of Dublin, ■whose maiden appearance has been anticipated with a good deal of curiosity, and who -.vas listened to with the closest attention by members on both sides of the House. Suggesting that Mr Gladstone is playing the part of Faust to the Mephistopheles of Cardinal-Cullen; aDd that while the Prime Minister is making love to a Marguerite undescribed, Mr C. Fortescue—in the character of "th= old woman "-is engagerlln a flit-tation with the gentleman In scarlet," he declared that the present Govern- ment are sailing 'under false colours; and then, passing from romantic to chtsdcal story, he introduced the combat "of the lIo=tii and Curiatii into the debate, and expressed his opinion that the Government (imitating the example set on that occa- sion) are endeavouring-to take the Irish-que-tions in detail, so 'that having dealt with the church and the land, they may find -an opportunity to meet with the wishes of the Roman Catholic grelates with regard to education. Under these circumstances, he called for a decided and decisive answer to the memorial of the authorities of Trinity College; and in an eloquent and elaborate peroration warned the Government against the mis- fortunes which would result from their hoisting the flag of de- nominationalism in Ireland. The O'COnor Don opposed Mr Fawcett's resolution as inopportune and, while describing the memorial'from the authorities of Trinity College as an attempt "by the ibandonment of principle to retain privilege," repu- diated as insulting the insinuation of Mr Plunket that Roman Catholic laymen are not as independent as Protestants. Mr Gladstone, who, like the member for Roscommon, warmly com- plimented Mr Plunket upon his maiden speech, declined to discuss the merits of the resolution, and announced that the Government would "fulfil the solemn obligation" of keeping in their own ht1HL-; the power of free discussion and deliberation upon the measures they shall propose with regard to higher education in Ireland and on the part of himself and his col- leagues refused to abandon the initiative upon this or any other question with reference to which the majority of the House has trusted them with its confidence. 'At the same time he referred to the declaration made by Sir George Grey in his correspon- dence with the Irish Roman Catholic bishops in 1866; and em- phatically declared that the events which have occurred in Europe since that date would prevent the Government from approaching more nearly to the views of the Roman Catholic hierarchy. Mr B. Hope refused to support the motion, lest its adoption should prejudice the discussion upon the University Tests Bill. When Sir H. Hoare moved the adjournment of the debate, some difficulty arose from the fact of the Prime Minister treating this as a vote of want of confidence, and the impossi- bility of finding an early -day for the resumption of the discus- sion. After a short conversation the motion for the adjourn- ment was negatived by a majority of 136-232 to 96. Then Mr R. Torrens moved the adjournment of the House, and Air Glad- stone, satisfied with the majority he had obtained on the division just taken, assented to that motion, and the House immediately adjourned.

WEDNESDAY. THE SITES BILL. Mr OSMRNE MORGAN said—Mr Speaker, I rise to move the second reading of a Bill to facilitate the acquisition of sites for places of worship and schools and I hope I shal, not be accused either of rhetorical exaggeration or of any undue partiality for my own offspring, if I say that the question-Raised by this Bill is of the gravest importance. For that iquestion is neither more nor less than this- whether the extraordinary powers over private property which in this commercial country have, from the very exigency of the case, been constantly conceded to what are called somewhat vaguely, "purposes of public utility," should be extended to purposes which, even in this com- mercial country will never, I trust, cease to be regarded as purposes of public utility "—the worship of God and the education of the people. Sir, I make these observations with all sincerity and in all earnestness; though I confess when I look at the state of the benches -opposite, and r" particularly at the state of that bench (pointing to the front Opposition bench) from which we have been ac- customed within the last few days to hear such thrilling and oracular deliverances as to the sanctity of the rights of property, lean hardly bring myself to'believe in°the seriousness of a printed indictment against my Bill, which was this morning put into my hands, that "it was an attempt to undermine the foundations of property and invade the most sacred of private rights.1'' No doubt, sir, allowances must be made for the strength of a counter- attraction (the Oxford and Cambridge boat-race), which, although not yet like another great national festival, officially recognized in our .parliamentary calendar is, I am told, fast rising into the importance of a national event." (Laughter.) And, perhaps, when I took to the quarter from which opposition to this Bill is threatened, I ought not to quarrel with what may turn out to be a timely diversion in its favour, particularly when I call to mind the reason popularly assigned for the -success of the Church-rate Abolition Bill some years ago, when it was said-I cannot of course vouch for the accuracy of the report-that the Bill was carried because the friends of the church had gone -to attend the Chester races. (Re- newed laughter.) But to return to the Bill. It might perhaps be inferred from what I said that this is a new application of an old principle. Yet even the application is not absolutely novel, in the year 1848 a great religious movement—perhaps the greatest religious movement of modern times-had taken place in Scotland, carrying with it, if not a majority, at least a very large minority of the nation. But for reasons, upon which I Reed not dilate, the great landowners of Scotland showed the strongest antagonism to that movement, and they endeavoured to prevent its expansion by the very practical-if not very justifiable- course of refusing to grant or self, any land for the erection of churches belonging to the new communion, or of manses for the use of its ministers. To such an extent was this refusal carried that in one of the Hebrides —an island as large as the Isle of Wight-not a single square inch of ground -could be got on which to erect a building for the performance of religious worship by the ministers of the Free Church. And the members of that church were compelled to meet for the purpose of religious worship-like their fathers-the covenanters of the seventeenth century—literally without a rafter to shelter them from the pitiless northern tUast—upon the barren moorland or on the stormy seashore. To remedy what was, even in those days, regarded as an un- questionable grievance, my right honourable friend, the mem- ber for Kilmarnock (Mr Bouverie), whose name I am happy to have on the back of my Bill, brought in a measure which, although its machinery differed considerably, was in principle identical with the Bill which I have the honour to introduce. The second reading of that Bill was carried in a house, I need hardly say, much less liberal in such matters than the house which I have the honour to address-for we have gone a very long way in these matters since 1848-(hear,hear)-by a majority of 3 to 1. The interval which has passed since the introduction of that measure has, as might have been expectod-for twenty- two years are a very long period in the history of an assemblage like this-made great havoc amongst the many distinguished speakers who took part in the debate which followed its intro- duction. Indeed, of those speakers, two only, I believe, re- main, my right honourable friend, the member for Morpeth (Sir George Grey), who supported the Bill, and the right honour- able gentleman opposite, the member for Oxfordshire (Mr Henley), who strenuously opposed it. Sir, I fear I can hastily hope that the interval uf twenty-two years, which has certainly not, in the slightest degree, dimmed the clearness of his intelli- gence, has disposed the right honourable gentleman to look more favourably upon my Bill, and I must therefore rely upon the opinions of other speakers, scarcely less distinguished, who, even at that time, dwelt strongly upon its justice and expediency; amongst others upon those of Lord Panmure (then Mr Fox Maule), who strongly urged that the Bill should be made general, act .only to the Free Church of Scotland, but to every religious community in the United Kingdom, on the ground that every congregation ought to have the .paeans of worshiping God ac- cording to their own consciences,, under decent and respectable protection afforded by the law." For reasons which I do not clearly understand, my right honourable friend's Bill was, on the thirifi.reading,thrown put by a majority of39. But the previous divi- sionand the debates which followed it. remain upon the records of this house-a standing protest in favour of the principles of my Bill. 'Now, sir, I freely admit that, in order to bring myself within the precedent of that Bill, I must showiwo things f) i-st, that legis- lative action isnecessary; and, secondly, that thelegislative action by which I propose to meet the case involves no wanton or un- necessary interference with the rights of private property. (Hear hear.) Sir, I accept the burden of both those responsibilities in the fullest and widest sense of the words. But, ia addressing myself to the first proposition, I am met at the onset by a diffi- culty. I cannot, of course, call my witnesses to the bar of the hoase, and make them tell what they know, or, I expect, I should have very little difficulty in making out a case for the inter- ference of the legislature. I have not even the advantage which my right honourable .friend had, for the introduction of his measure had been preceded by the labours of a select committee, which had carefully investigated every case, and he was, there- fore, in a position to put his finger upon eight or nine specific cases of hardship, and to rest his case uponthem. If, in default of this better evidence, I do what I did on a former occasion, and what a member introducing a measure of this kind is almost driven to do if I quote from contemporary reports and articles in local newspapers, I am at once met, as I was a fortnight ago, bv my honourable friend, the member for Cambridge University (Mr B. Hope), with the charge that I am relying upon the tittle of country newspapers." If, on the other hand, I quote from private information supplied to me by the most reliable persens, I draw down upon my head a perfect deluge of corre- spondence and recrimination which is really no triflin" matter, particularly as my correspondents do not always recollect to prepay their letters. (Laughter.) I can assure the house that only the other day I had to pay fourpence for ten closely-written pages of abuse of myself and laudation of the honourable mem- ber for Cambridge University. (Renewed laughter.,) Well, sir I should be prepared in the discharge of a public duty to submit even to that penalty. But, unfortunately, such a course has other drawbacks, for I have found by experience that personal charges made against individuals in this house, even when they pass Almost unnoticed here, find their way down into the country and produce an amount of bad blood and bad feeling which it takes years to eradicate. With the permission of the house, therefore, I will cite no instances in support of my Bill, which I haye not myself investigated, and, unless challenged to do so, I will mention no names. But before I eome to particular instances, let me make one general remark. I have no doubt I shall be met with the observation that the area of the grievance which I seek to redress is limited, and that the cases which call for interference are exceptional. Undoubtelly this is true. Where land is in the hands of many holders, it rarely happens that land can not be obtained for purpose mentioned in this Bill. In such districts, therefore, this? Bill will have no practical operation. But, in many districts in England, and in most dis- tricts in Wales, the whole of the land is in the hands of a few great landowners, and the congregation which wishes to erect a ehapel or provide a school, is practically at the mei,ey of these few persons for the means of doing so, and the hardship is greater where, as is the case all over Wales, the landowners are nearly all churchmen, and the congregations nearly all dis- senters. (Hear, hear.) Now, sir, no doubt in the majority of caE.eg even in Wales, the landowner is disposed to accede to the wishes of his neighbours; and the cases of unwillingness to do so are, I am glad to say, exceptional. But is not a great part of our legislation-is not the whole of our preventive legislation- addressed to and founded upon exceptional cases ? It seems to me that during the last eight weeks during which I have been sitting here, I have been doing nothing but voting on excep- tional cases. What is the Irish Land Bill, but a piece of excep- tional legislation ?—What is the Irish Peace Bill but a piece of exceptional legislation ?-for I suppose there is nobody either in or out of the house who will contend that—even in Ireland- crime is not the exception, but the rule. Mr Morgan then referred to several cases within his own experience in Wales,where land had been wantonly refused for the use of chapels and British Schools In his own county, in 1866, in a parish small at first but which had gradually increased, there was a dissenting chapel which as originally built was sufficient for the wants of the community; but these had outgrown the accommodation, and land was re- quired to enlarge the chapel. A memorial was prepared and presented to the landlord, stating that all his tenants required was a little bit of land to enlarge the chapel on eitherjside or they offered to convert the chapel into the minister's house and build a new chapel. Their request, however, was peremp- torily refused. They did not get the land, but they succeeded in obtaining from another party a site about a mile from where they wanted it, and they had to pull down both chapel and minister's house, the building materials being of no more use to minister's house, the building materials being of no more use to tliem than if they had been cast into the sea, He thought that a very wanton exercise of the rights of property. There was another case of refusal, by a man of the highest liberality, the reason for which he could not understand. In a district which had sprung up with a constantly-increasing population, a school site was wanted. There were several National schools in the locality, but no British school. Application was made for a site. The landlord said he would put it in a district which was already served by an existing British school. The parties con- sidered that would be of little or no use to them. They pointed out three sites, any one of which they would be very glad to get; but the answer they received was that none of those sites would be given, because they were too near the National school and in view of the parsonage. From that day to the present no site had been granted. In a third case, he had some difficulty in translating the answer into parliamentary language. It was to this effect-that sooner than sell or give land for a site, the owner would see the memorialists relegated to that locality to which very high churchmen were periodically in the habit of consigning such of their fellow-men as were unfortunate enough not to be able to fathom the mysteries of the Athanasian creed. (A laugh.) He knew of many other cases in which sites had been given but the parties who remained tenants-at-will to the landlord gave their votes -at the next election, with the risk of confiscation hanging over their heads. Even in London he be- lieved there was great difficulty in obtaining sites either for places of worship or schools, most of the property at the West- end being in the hands of large landowners whose leases con- tained restrictive covenants to that effect. Only the other day he received a letter from a clergyman in Holborn approving this Bill, and stating tkat he had the greatest difficulty in obtaining a site for a school, and was compelled to resort to a disused cemetery for the purpose. There was a covenant by the lessee of a landed property of this nature, "That he would not use the premises, er any part thereof, for the purpose of a school or seminary, or for any trade or business of dealer in horse-flesh, cats'-meat, dogs'-meat, slaughterer, melter of tallow, or any other offensive business whatsoever, or suffer anything to be done on the premises that may be or grow to be a nuisance or disturbance to the said lessor." Experience showed that a compulsory power of taking land for the site of schools was necessary; but the right hon. gentleman, Mr Forst-er, in his Education Bill, expressly excluded himself from this, which was the only power worth having, and without which that Bill would in many cases be a dead letter. Nothing was more Tinjust than to impose on a neighbourhood an obligation, and, on the other hand, to take away from the community the power of fulfilling it. In Mr Bowstead's report to the Committee of Council on Education, there was the following statemert: -"Another question, which is of importance as affecting tJle progress of education in my district, is that of school sites. I constantly nseet with cases where some single individual is lord paramount of a whole district, -Jind where that individual -or his agents re- ■fa.se either to give or sell a piece of ground for the erection of school premises, however pressing may be the want of them. Sometimes objection is made to the proposed school because it is a British one, sometimes because it is to be under inspection, and sometimes simply because it is a school. Occasionally it happens that where there are two or three landowners in a place, each of them has some one of these objections to urge. I will net enumerate all the cases of this kind which have come under my notice; but without giving details I may mention the names of three very important places, in which the school ac- commodation at this moment is shamefully inadequate, simply because sites. that could be granted apparently without the least inconvenience, are absolutelv refused. These places are Brynmawr r.nd Beaufort, on the borders of Brecknockshire and Monmouthshire, and Treherbert, in the Rhondda Valley, in Glamorganshire. Each of these places is inhabited by an in- dustrial population amounting to some thousands, and the hard- ship inflicted is very grievous. Now, it seems to me that a remedy should be sought for grievances of this kind, and that an adequate one might easily be found. Let a public officer be sent to report upon all such cases as I have alluded to, and in the event of his deciding that a school is wanted, let power be given by Act of Parliament to some public authority to summon a jury to have a value set upon the land that is required, and to compel the owner to give it up on receiving its price. If it be said that this would inflict a hardship on the landowner, it may be replied that it is certainly not a greater hardship than the compulsory taking of a man's land for a railway, and that the necessity is quite as urgent. No general system of national education can ever be extended over the whole country without having powers of this kind granted to the administering depart- ment, and the landowner, who brings a large population to live upon his property, has clearly no more right to keep them in ignorance than he has to keep them without roads." That was the whole argument in favour of his, Bill. He knew a gentle- man, formerly a member of the House, and still living, who made it his boast that upon his death-bed his dying consolation would be that he had not given a single sixpence or sold an acre of land for the purposes of education. (A laugh.) No doubt that was an exceptional case. If it were not so, English society could not cohere. He had been urged to cut his Bill in two, and restrict it to schools, but both schools and places of worship were of public utility, and it could not be called a dissenting Bill, for it applied to churches as well as chapels. Mr Morgan then went at considerable length through the provisions of the Bill, contending that religious worship and popular education were as much objects of public utility" as the construction of a railway or a harbour, at the s;.me time offering to insert in his Bill any-reilsonable safeguards which the House might consider were- required for the protection of the landowner. If this were done the landowner would be really better protected against any attempt to invade his pro- perty under the Bill, than he was at present against the en. croachments of a railway company. It was quite true that be- fore a man's land could be taken by a railway company a parliamentary enquiry was necessary; but, if the safeguard which he proposed, namely, that no order under the Bill should be made absolute until confirmed by Parliament, were intro- duced, the landowner would have exactly the same safeguards as he Lad against a railway company, with this difference, that the enquiry under the Bill would take place after, instead of before, the making of the provisional order, which, if anything, was a difference in favour of the landowner. He then referred to the protection which the landowner had in the nature of the trihunal to whom the application was to be made and in the cost of a proceeding under the Bill, which would be con- siderably greater than that of proceeding by private agreement, so that, excepting in extreme cases, the compulsory clauses of the Act would never be resorted to, and urged the injustice of testing the merits of such a measure by the possible abuses to which in extreme cases it might be put, concluding that if this test were applied to every measure there would be an end of all legislation. And do not think, he continued, that if the Act be but seldom resorted to, it will remain a dead letter. I was much struck the other day by the argument ot a French senator when defending the retention of capital punishment. He said that cap- ital punishment was a very useful thing to have even if you never inflicted it. (Laughter and "hear.") And if you ask me what good I hope to do by this Bill, if it be so seldom resorted to, I should be tempted to give you the same answer which old Lord Auchinlech gave to Dr Johnson when Johnson pressed him with the question What good did Cromwell do to his country ?" "Gude sir," he replied, "he g ir't kings ken there was a lith in their necks." If you will only make these landed kings understand that there is a lith in their necks," I promise you that yeu will hear very little more" about refusals of sites for chapels and schools in future. And now just one word more about this supposed infringement of the rights of property about which so much has been said. Do you not every day infringe those rights for purposes, the importance of which will not bear comparison with the purposes which I am advocating. My right honourable friend (Mr Bouverie) in the able speech in which he introduced his Scotch Bill gave several remarkable instance of men who had had their property cut to pieces and their homes invaded by such undertakings as those of railway companies. I will give another instance, and it is one for the correctness of which I can vouch, for it Jiappened to no other person than myself. I was the owner some years ago of the lease of a house on the Paddington estate close to the line afterwards taken by the Metropolitan Railway Company. The railway company took-not myhouse-but the house immedi- ately adjoining my house, and, of course, paid me no compen- sation, and gave me no notice .Qf their intention to introduce their Bill, so that I had no opportunity of opposing it even if I had wished to do so. In fact the first intimation which I had of their presence was a hammering within a few feet of my head. (Laughter.) But although they did not take my house, they made it uninhabitable. I consulted my lawyer, or rather my law books, for I do not often indulge, in the luxury of a lawyer-as to whether I could not at least elaim any compensation from the company. But I soon found that-to be kept awake at night and to live with the fear. of having ,one's house tumbling about one's ears were what the law calls "sentimental grievances" of which the courts of law took no-eognizance, and I wag further reminded that, in a matter of public convenience, I was bound not to allow my private interests to stand in the way of a work of public utility. I had, indeed, the consolation of reflect- ing that if my house had actually tumbled about my ears and buried me under its ruins. I, or rather the legal personal repre- sentatives of my deceased self, would have a right of action against the company. (Laughter and tear.") As I had no wish to obtain redress on these terms I, at some sacrifice of monev and convenience, threw up my lease and sought a home elsewhere, and that without receiving a .single sixpence in the way of compensation. Well, now, you think nothing of tnrning a man out into the streets in order to make room for a work of public utility. I should like to know how many thousand poor working men were turned out of house and home in order to enable the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Company to get to Ludgate-hill. (Loud ciies of "Hear, hear.) You think nothing of turning ten thousand artiz ms and their families into the streets in order to make room for a bankrupt railway com- pany, who scarcely go through the farce of offering to pay far the land which they seize, because, that, forsooth, is a work of public utility. But if a few poor, decent, religious people ask you to give them powers to purchase a little bit of land not half the size of the -room in which we are sitting, in order to worship God or educate their children in their own way, you raise an out- cry that the rights of property are in danger, and you shudder to think that your nervous susceptiblities may be shocked by the sight of an "Ebenezer" or a "Bethel." (Cheers.) For my part I think we hardly realize to ourselves what an enormous in- fringement of the rights of private property the whole of our railway legislation is—at least so far as it touches,the poorer classes. The rich man, I admit, does not feel it. He can oppose the projected work—he can make his own terms with the com- pany—and very good terms they geneIaIly are I But the poor man is at their mercy. if you want to know what I mean watch the course of any of our great lines of railway—watch them, I say, avoiding with punctilious care the bishop's palace, the nobleman's park, the country gentleman's seat-but tramp- ling with relentless indifference upon the cottages of the poor. (Hear, hear.) Sir we have a maxim—a time-honoured maxim— of English law, the spirit if not the letter of which I think I may fairly crave in aid of the principle of my Bill-" Sic ufere tuo ut alieno non noceas," use that which is your own, but do not hurt that which is another's. If I, on my own land, erect a house or a building which interferes with the free flow of light and air to another man's land, the law steps in and compels me to pull down that house or that building because it interferes with that which is the common right of all God's creatures-can you consistently compel me to do this and yet permit me to use the property with which Providence has entrusted me so as to interfere with that better light which ought to be as free and as full as the light ofyonler sun in heaven? (Hear.) Sir,I admit, and I do it most gratefully as well as most cheerfully, that there are in this country many men endowed with vaet possessions and great wealth who use those possessions and that wealth for the noblest purposes and with the most ungrudging generosity. If this were not, the English landed aristocracy would not at this moment be occupying the proud position which they hold among the aristocracies of Europe. For men like this-and I am speaking in the presence of some of them-such legislation has no application and no terrors. But there are also in this country —I say it sorrowfully but emphatically-other men, also possessed of great power and vast wealth, who have forgotten the sacred maxim that property has its duties as well as its rights, and who use that power and that wealth to coerce the conscience and enslave the mind. And do not say that we-for I am speaking not only of myself but of my noble and learned friend whose name is on the back of the Bill (Mr Hinde Palmer), and of my other learned friends who approve the principle of the Bill-do not say that we—real property lawyers, brought up with the strictest reverence for the rights of property, are urging you to rash and headlong legislation. It is just because we see the greatness of the danger that we ask you- you, an assemblage of landowners—to put your house in order before the day of assault comes. Sir, it is useless to blink the fact, that the whole law of property is on its trial- not only in Ireland but in England also —but, believe me, it is not in measures like these that the danger lies. Reject this measure and the demand for such legis- lation, now a mere whisper, will in my country at least, deepen into a fierce and fanatical cry. It is just from the refusal of these small concessions that dangerous agitations take their rise. Remember, I pray you, that the history of England's prosperity is a history of timely concessions. And let it not be said that we, who have succeeded to the accumulated experience of centuries-we The heirs of all the ages, in the foremost files of time," have so far forgotten the lessons of that experience as to throw in our lot with those misguided men who, in the plenitude of their arrogance have striven to dam back the torrent, till it rose and overwhelmed them, and who have precipitated calamitous revolutions by resisting temnerate reform. (Cheers.) The Bill was opposed by Mr G. GREGORY, who moved as an amendment that it be read that day six months, and argued that any measure to compel a man to sell his land for these particu- lar objects would be an infringement of the rights of property which the House ought not to sanction. Mr H. RICHARD wished to supply some further evidence to fortify the case of his hon. and learned friend. He cheerfully acknowledged that a large number of landowners, and amongst them many conservative landowners, who had granted sites for chapels and scilooa) were disposed to act, not only in a fair an( just, but even in a generous spirit towards their nonconformist neighbours. He also acknowledged that some of the impedi ments of w'lfcft he complained arose, not from want of will, bul want of legai power on the part of the landowners, and believed that soi&e of them would gladly welcome a measure for removing the disabilities which now stood in the way of their following th« iMhienCes of their own kind natures. But, unhappily, there we'ne other landowners—a small minority—-who were inspired by a different spirit, aftil made use of their rights as owners of the soil to thwart and harrass those who were endeavouring to promote the moral and spiritual improvement of their country- men, because they happened to belong to a different communion from their own. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the difficulty of procuring sites for schools, he referred the House to the evi- dence given befcre the committee on education in 1865-66, over which the right hon. gentleman the member for Droitwich pre- sided. The Rev. John Phillips, principal of the Training Col- lege at Bangor, for the British and Foreign School Society, pointed out several instances in which the promoters of Unde- nominational schools had been refused sites, although they were prepared to pay any reasonable price for their purchase. Similar evidence was given by the Rev. Dr Roberts and Mr Bousted. A strong feeling existed in some remote parts of the country against schools established on unsectarian principles and as an instance of that feeling he might refer to a case which was tried at the last Carmarthenshire Assizes, where an action was 'brought against certain members of the Church party for demolishing a school. the result of which was that the judge recommended the withdrawal of a juror, the defendants con- senting to pay £150 and costs. Now, he would ask, was it one of the rights of property to consign the population to eternal ignorance in obedience to the caprice and narrow-mindedness of some sour-tempered individual ? (Hear, hear.) In many cases Where school buildings were erected the promoters had no security except in the honour of the proprietor and his succes- sors and in many cases opportunity was taken to coerce the voters at the elections. He would mention an instance of the way in which a successor sometimes acted. A gentleman in the county of ardigan, three or four years ago, at the expiration of a sixty years' lease which had been given to a member of the Methodist connection, refused to let the chapel again for more than one year at a rental of £6, and he also refused to grant ano- ther site, although he had plenty of rocky land which did not yield him any rent. At the end of the year the congregation was ohliged to turn out, and had to build another cha,pel. He would ask-did the right of trampling on the right of conscience form a part of the right of property ? (Hear.) He wished to call the attention of the House to the hardship which the pre- sent system inflicted on a country lik Wales. It was not as if the Church of England had adequately occupied the ground and provided the means of religious instruction. That was not the c, case. According to the census of 1851 the population of Wales and Monmouthshire was 1,100,000 souls. Assuming that the cc Church accommodation should be 58 per cent. of the population, such accommodation ought to be provided for 689,569 persons. But the Church of England fell short of that demand by 357,672. So that accommodation was provided for barely 25 per cent. of the population. (Rear.) He appealed to the House whether they could approve of this dog-in-the-manger policy, and whe- ther parties who ought to provide accommodation for the ma- jority should be allowed to throw all kinds of obztacles in the way of those who were willing and able to supply their lack of service ? (Hear, hear.) He did not wish to say a word against the rights of property, but thought it desirable that in these days its owners would do well to wear their honours meekly. For what might happen ? An intolerant landlord might come into possession of a vast extent of territory, and virtually pro- scribe every form ofreligion except his own. That was a system of persecution which had now been discarded by every state in Europe. The question was whether the proprietors of the land were to be allowed, by the exercise of the rights of property, to place an interdict on the course of legislation which had prevailed for so many years. The rights of property were sacred, but the rights of conscience were paramount. (Hear, hear.) Mr HARDY begged the House to remember that the Estab- lished Church had never asked for any such compulsory powers as were demanded by the Bill. But with regard to-chapels, he thought that the dissenting bodies should be phced on the same footing as members of the Church of England, so far as the rights of limited owners were concerned, and that all proper facilities should be given the latter to grant sites. To the com- pulsory powers of the Bill, however, he should offer his deter- mined opposition, though he did not consider it desirable to take a division -upon the second reading Mr Secretary BRUCE hoped that some compromise would be effected with regard to the clauses creating compulsory powers for the acquisition of sites for chapels and churches; but to the other portions of the measure relating to schools, he was pre- pared, on behalf of the Government to give his cordial support. There were no doubt examples of individual hardship, especially in Wales, under the present state of the law but he did not think that so overwhelming a case had been' made out as to justify the House in giving the larger powers which the Bill sought to take. Mr Hinde Palmer maintained that without the compulsory powers the Bill was useless, and the same view was enforced by Mr Horsman and Air Candlish, who stated, with Mr Morgan's assent, that the Bill would be dropped if the compulsory powers were excised. On the other hand, from the Conservative benches Mr Henley, Mr B. Hope, Air Mowbray, Mr Newdegate, Mr S. Hill, and Mr Liddel acquiesced in the object of the Bill if shorn of the compulsory clauses. Sir J. HANDIER, as a Welsh representative who had had a great deal of experience of the Principality, denied that either liberal or conservative landlords treated dissenters in the illiberal manner which had been attributed to thein. On the contrary, he 'had always found the Welsh proprietors quite generous and willing to accede to any just and reasonable demand. Mr PEASE, as a dissenter, expressed his belief that in-his part of the country at least (Durham) the cases of grievance were not numerous* In the end Mr Gregory withdrew his opposition, and the Bill was read a second time, and ordered for committee on Wednes- day, the 15th of June, when Mr Newdegate will move as an amendment that it be committed on that day six months. Lord Enfield moved the second reading of the Juries Bill, the provisions of which are founded upon the recommendations of a select committee of the House of Commons. It enacts that the qualification of common county juries shall, in towns with 50,000 inhabitants and upwards, be £100 of ratable value, and in towns under that population, £50 of ratable value and for special jurymen double these amounts; that jurors shall receive six days' notice; that their attendance shall not exceed one week and that special jurymen shall be remunerated at the rate of 20s. a day, and common jurors at 10s. a he Attorney General considered the Bill a good one, carefully drawn, and agreed in its principle, but did not commit himself to all its details.—Mr Henley having expressed a hope that in committee the Government would give an assurance that they undertook the responsibility of passing the measure, the second reading was agreed, to, and the Bill ordered to be referred to a select committee.—Leave was given to Mr H. Sheridan to bring in a Bill to protect the goods of lodgers against executions upen the property of the landlord.

THURSDAY. The House of Lords sat for only a short time last night, and transacted no business of general interest. The most important information elicited from the members of the Government in the House of Commons was the official confirmation of thejreport that Colonel J. Scott has been put to death by Riel, the leader of the rebels in the Red River Settle- ment, and the intimation that the helmets of the Metropolitan police are to be altered in a manner which, as Mr Bruce, by an odd slip of the tongue, assured the House will make them neither more serviceable nor. less unsightly. The Solicitor-General gave notice that he will aek leave to bring in the measure for the abolition of University Tests on the 25th instant, and Mr Glad- stone announced that on Monday he would move the appoint- ment of a Select Committee to consider the state of the law affecting persons found guilty of corrupt practices by a Com- mission who are members of this House, and to recommend what proceedings, if any, should be taken with respect to such members, and what alteration, if any, should be.made in the law." The House having gone into Committee upon the Irish Land Bill, Mr Synan proposed to extend the compensation for disturb- ance recoverable by a tenant at or under XIO annual value from seven to ten years' rent. Mr Gladstone availed himself of this opportunity to explain, at,considerable length, the modifications which, to meet certain objections, the Government are prepared to introduce into the Bill. He decidedly opposed the amend- ment of the member for Limerick, and justified the terms of the Government scale of damages as last adjusted. At the same time he informed the House that he was willing to accompany the enforcement of that scale with a provision in the equities" clause, requiring the judge, in assessing the compensation for disturbance, wherever the landlord had offered to the tenant a lease for 81 years, to take that circumstance into consideration, and to limit the operation of the provision which annuls all co n- tracts made in opposition to the enactments of this Bill to holdings of X50 annual value and under. These concessions were cheerfully hccepted by Sir R. Palmer and Mr Hardy as improvements in the Bill, but were opposed by Sir J. Gray and Mr Downing as unfair to tenants. When the division was taken upon Mr Synan's amendment a large number of Conservative members bers left the house, but the numbers by which it was rejected were 245 to 50. The next proposal, which led to very protracted discussion, was made by Mr Fowler, who asked the Committee to limit the compensation for eviction (in harmony with what he regarded as the avowed object of the Bill, the protection of small tenants) to holders of farms under £50 annual value. The amendment, which found great support from the Conservatives, was strenuously resisted by the Government on the ground that it would injuriously contract the operation of the Bill, which was never intended to redress the grievances of only the smallest occupiers, but to protect tenants generally against injustice and oppression; and towards the close of the discussion Mr Glad- stone very plainly intimated that the Ministry had reached the limit of the concessions which they were prepared to make, and could not without sacrificing a vital principle of the Bill con- sent to the amelildment of the member for Cambridge. At the same time it was admitted, both by the Prime Minister and the Irish Secretary, that this scale of compensation ought not to apply to the large grazing farms of Ireland; and an undertaking was given that words should be introduced to exclude that operation. When heads were counted the amendment was negatived by a majority of 82-250 to 218. The announcement of the numbers was received with loud cheers from the Opposition, which were met by as loud, or still louder, acclamations from the Ministerial benches. Immediately afterwards the Chairman was ordered to report progress, and when the other orders had been disposed of, the House adjourned. urn.

MR ARNOLD TAYLOR'S REPORT. The CLERK read the following letter Local Government Act Office, April 1, 1870.