The Welshman

A THIRSTY MODEL.—The Manchester Gua?-dia?&, io its notice of one of the pictures at the Exhibition, tells the following amusing story of Liversedge, the artist, who was a native of that city Liversedge was always anxious to find characteristic models. He had some trouble in discovering a suitable head for the drunken tinker of the Introduction to the Taming of the Shrew." At last he found a cobter whom he thought would suit when well primed with liquor, and set him in his studio in a proper attitude, with a bottle of gin beside him, and permission to drink whenever he pteased. The bottle of gin was soon emptied, but the cobbtcr continued as sober as a judge. Another bottle was brought and emptied, with no better result. Be on," cried Liversedge, at last, in a passion, "it will cost more to make you drunk than the picture will fetch. ATTEMPT AT MuRDER.—An attempt at murder was on Sunday made at Witham, Essex, under the fottowing cir- cumstances :—A young woman named Freeborn, cook to Mr. James Upson, farmer in the parish named, became engaged" to a young man named Chartes Finch, who was then working at a farm in the neighbourhood of Ketvedon. Soon after the commencement of this engagement he went out to the Crimea to join the Army Works Corps, or as a navvy, and but recently returned to the neighbourhood. In the meantime it seems the young woman had formed an attachment in some other quarter, which appears too likely to cost her her life. A few minutes after 3 o'clock Sunday she lief ther master's house for the purpose of proceeding to the parish church, distant about halt a mile, and, so far as her her own statement can be understood, had not proceeded many yards before she saw Finch sitting on the bank, much to her supprise, for she had not seen him since his return, and, indeed, believed him to be in London. He waited until she was quite close to him, then suddenly sprung upon her, threw her down in the ditch, and with a razor cut her throat, without uttering a single word. He then made off; but apparently fearing he had not fully ao eomplished his purpose he returned again a few minutes afterwards and made a second incision, and then immedi. ately made off. The poor girt must have been very soon found, for about 3.30. a messenger arrtved at the Wttham potice station. The c'\nstables, with the exception of one, were at the pariah church they were, however called out during the service, causing, as may be supposed, no smatt consternation among the congregation, and, with Mr. Su- perintendent Conke of the Essex constabulary, werpspeedi- ly on the spot, Mr. Thomas Tomkin, a medicat gentleman, being atready in attendance. The young woman, who is about 21 years of age, and bears a respectable character, being removed to her master's house, search was immedi- atety commenced in the woods, and in a few hours Finch was captured by a labouring mar. named Green as he was attempting to escape from the wood. Police constable Medtey, who was near, took him in charge, and by 7 o'clock in the evening he was lodged in a cetl at the Witham potice station. The windpipe is completcly eevered, but the main arteries have escaped; so that there ie some chance of the poor woman's recovery.

HOUSE OF LORDS, THURSDAY, MAY 21. Their Lordships did not sit to-day. I FRIDAY, MAY 22. I The Duke of Norfolk gave notice that upon the motion for going into committee upon the Divorce and Matri- monial Causes Bit! he should move that it be referred to a Select Committee. Lord Panmure entered into some explanations with regard to the report of the Commissioners on Military Education, which he deetared It was never his intention to suppress and further stated that tt complete system of education for the omcers of the army was nearly ma- tured. The House then went into committee on the Probate and Letters of Administration BiU. On clause 2, Lord St. Leonard's proposed an amend. ment with a view of entirely removing real estate from the jurisdiction of the Court of Probate. This amendment was lost on a division, the numbers being- I' For the amendment. 35 Against it, 56 M aj ority 21 The remaining clauses were then agreed to, and the House resumed. Some other business was then despatched, and their Lordships adjourned. I MONDAY, MAY 2.5. Lord Lyndhurst, before the order of the day was read for going into committee on the Divorce Bill, called the attention of the House to the state of the law as regardefl actions for criminal conversation. He hoped that as the Bill passed through committee a sufficient substitute would be provided for that disgraceful form of action. The House then went into committee on the Divorce Bill, when The Duke of Norfolk moved that it be referred to a select committee for the purposes of taking evidence and resetting as to whether the permission for divorced per- sons t« marry again had any warrant in Scripture. The Bishop of St. David's thought that the fact of the noble duke making a motion upon a question from which he might without impropriety or inconsistency have slOod aloof did him infinite honour, and that the terms of the motion showed that he was ready to subject the doctrines of his own church to the same test which Protestants were in the habit of applying to the doctrines of their church. But he was unable to concur in that motion. There was exceedingly tittle probability of such a course leading to any satisfactory result. All that could be dis- closed before the committeee was already patent to every one, and the subject admitted of a difference of opinion which it was utterly hopeless to attempt to reconcile. The motion seemed to involve a proposition assumed to be un- questionable, but for which he could find neither sumcient argument nor adequate authority—viz.. that our bussed Lord intended to assume the character of a temporal legis- lator, and that all his precepts and prohibitions were de- signed by him to be embodied in the code of every Christian legislature. He thought they were very much lowering the dignity of that Divine person when they placed him on a level even with Moses, and that they were also lower- ing the dignity of the sacred records which contained his words, injunctions, and prohibitions, when they turned them into a letter, which might become a dead letter, but which they sought to enforce by the sanction of civil authority and gena) legislation. If he were told that such was the design -of our Lord, he asked for proof of that proposition. He had never yet been able to find such in scripture. He could not find it in reason. It did not ap- pear to be in harmony with the general tenour of our Lord's teaching, and he thought it ought to be proved before it was assumed. If they should assume such a principle he wanted to know where and how their lord- ships could draw a satisfactory line at which to stop. There had been periods in history when human legislators had felt bound to enforce the injunctions and prohibitions of the Gospel by authority and penal enactment, and he supposed all were agreed that those attempts had been unsuccessful and unfortunate in their results. It might be said they were injudicious in their means and purposes, but he contended they were faulty in fundamental prin- ciple He was net to be understood as not attaching the highest possible value to every precept and prohibition of our Divine Master, or as not considering him in another sense as a lawgiver—namely, that everything he enjoined was binding on Christian consciences. That was one thing; but it was another thing to say that a Christian Legislature was bound to embody everything of that kind in its legislation. He therefore humbly submitted that the duty of a Christian Legislature, as such, was to conform to the general principles and the spirit of the Gospel. Although, on those grounds, he could not deny the right of their lordships to pass such a Bill as that before the House—although, indeed, he contended for their lord- ships' liberty in that respect, he must say he regarded the measure itself, on the whole, with feelings of strong apprehension and great doubt. (Hear, hear.) If the noble and lear.d lord on the woolsack had, in the first instance, confined his Bill to redressing the grievances, restoring the rights, and bettering the position of one of the parties to the nuptial contract, those objects would have been attended with sufficient difficulty to engage the entire and undivided attention of the noble and learned lord at one sime ? but he (the Bishop of Saint David's) felt that the tendency and inevit- able effect of the Bill as it stood would be to familiarize the minds of the people of this country with the idea that divorce was, under certain circumstances, a common incident of marriage. (Hear, hear.) He did not think that was a feeling which would conduce to the general wellbeing of the country. On the contrary, such a notion, however reconcileable it might be wtih the letter of certain passages of the Gospel, was unquestionably contrary to its spirit, which Undoubtedly went to preserve the marriage contract istabie and inviolable, so far as it was in the power of man to make it so. (Hear, hear.) He could understand how desirous noble and learned lords in their tordships' House, from their experience in courts of law, most be to amend the present anomalous position of the law in this matter; but that very anomaly was to him (the Bishop of St. David's) the great recommendation of the present law. Everybody admitted that a good road was better than a bad one but, surely, that very much depended upon the end for which people were. to travel over it, and if it was a road which terminated tn a pro. cipioe or a quagmire it would be better to shut it up altogether than amend it. He did not think the noble and learned lord's Bill could have tite effect of multiply'ng the number of happy marriages in "h country. (Hear, hear.) On the contrary, he apprehended that it would open a door to the great deal of collusion, and fail to satisfy the abstract principle on which it was founded. It was evi. dently limited to the usages of a certain class of the community, with respect to whom it was not at all clear that they had the greatest need of such a measure, and if it were not too late to do so, he must, therefore, deprecate it as unnecessary and inexpedient. (Hear, hear.] The Earl of Harrowby admired the manliness of cha. racter which had prompted the Duke of Norfolk to pro- pose this amendment, but felt it his duty to oppose tt. Lord Redesdale expressed his intention of voting with the noble Duke. After speeches from the Duke of Argyll, Lord Dungan- non, and Lord Denman, The House divided, when the numbers were-For the amendment, 26; against it, 123. Majority, 97. The House then went into committee, when clauses one to five inclusive were agreed to without opposmon. Clause 6. which specines the tribunals to which divorce cases should be referred, was opposed by Lord Grey on the ground that the time of the Judges who were to constitute the highest court was afready fully occupied, and that the expense would place a separation out of the reach of the poor. The Lord Chancellor defended the clause, which was ultimatety agreed to. On clause 15, Lord St. Leonard's proposed an amendment to protect women who having been deserted by their husbands be- came possessed of property. In such cases it often happened that the husband stepped in and claimed the The Lord Chancellor thought the Bill gave women in this position sumcient protection. After some considerable discussion, in which Lord Campbell, Lord Grey, Lord Derby, the Bishop of Oxford, and Lord GranvUIe took part, The Committee divided, when the numbers were—Con- tents, 52 Non-contents, 4-t. Majority, S. Upon clause 16, Lord Westmeath moved a clause to precede it, giving powers of re-marriage in cases where the husband and wife had been separated for 20 years and upwards. He then entered into a matter personal to himself, but was caited to order by Lord Uedesdale and Lord Derby, who advised him to defer this vindication of his character to a more fitting opportunity. He accordingly withdrew his motion. I On clause 19, Lord Donoughmore proposed an amendment, placing married women in the same position as their husbands with regard to divorce a vinculo ?Ma<rtMOHtt. The Lord Chancellor opposed the amendment, which, though joftMM facie reasonable, was practicatiy inexpe- dient. Lord Lyndhurst declared his intention of supporting tba amendment.. Lord CampbeU thought the law ought not to be relaxed in this respect. The Committee then divided. For the amendment, 20 A(!ainst71. Majority, 51. Lord Lyndburst moved an amendment to the clause, to the effect that witfu) and malicious desertion for five years should be a sufficient ground for dissotving a marriage. All the great authorities o( the Church went one "ay in this matter, and by the existing law of Scotland desertion for four years was sufficient to annut a marriage. The Lord Chancellor opposed the amendment, as one which would lead to the greatest dimcuttiea. After some further discussion, Tbeir Lordships divided, when the numbers were-Con- tents, 1 Non-contents, 97. Majority, 89. The remaining clauses down to clause 43 were then agreed to, after acme diacHMton. On clause 43, giring parties liberty to re-marry, The Bishop of Oxford opposed it on the ground that the Scriptural argument against such re-marriages was plain. He felt that the glory of the people of England, the happiness of their homes, and the chastity of the peo- ple would be much endangered by this measure, and espe- cially by this particular clause, which he moved be ex- punged from the Bill, After considerable discussion, in which Lords Campbelt, Derby, the Lord Chancellor, and Lord Grey took part, the Committee divided on the question "that the word t pro- posed to be sttuck out stand part of the clause." Con- tents, 47 Non-contents, 53. Majority, 6. The amendment was therefore carried. Lord CampbeU then moved that the House resume. This was carried, and their Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, THURSDAY, MAY 21. Mr. Vance moved that the House resolve itself into a 1 committee in order that he miRht obtain leave to bring in a Bill to reppal certain duties on ships entering the port of Dublin, and other imposts affecting Its trade and commerce. Although this appeared to be a matter of local interest, he observed, it was really one of general concern, and he insisted upon the absurd, ridiculous, and unfair character of some of the charges upon ships enter- ing the harbour of Kingstown. Mr. Lowe explained the peculiar circumstances of this ease, which, he said, induced the Government to think it their duty to resist the thotion. After a short discussion, the House divided, when the motion was negatived by 253 to 133. Mr. Spooner moved a resolution, That this House do resolve itself into a committee to consider the Acts for tJle endowment of Maynooth, with a v iew to the with- drawal of any endowment out of the Consolidated Fund. due regard being had to vested rights and interests." In stating the reasons which induced him to renew this motion, he disclaimed any quarrel with Roman Catholics and all ambitious motives, the task being, he said a very painful one, which an imperative sense of duty aloue ccm- pelled him to undertake. He proceeded to argue that Parli;'men!,bythis grant, paid for teaching doctrines hostile to the Protfstant constitution and to the princi- ples of civil and religious liberty, destructive of moratity, and antagonistic to the Reformed Established Church, which the Sovereign by the Coronation 0<ith, and Parlia- ment by the Oath of Allegiance, were bound to maintain. He denied that there had been any Parliamentary con- tract in this matter Sir R. Peel, en introducing the measure of 1845, distinctly stated that it had not been a subject of stipulation or contract. As upon former occa- sions, he read extracts from works of Roman Catholic writers of high authority, enunciating doctrines stibver- sive of morals, which, he said, were only a fe'.v samples of a most abominable system; and he asked whether these doctrines and the denunciation of those who were stigmatised as heretics—doctrines immoral and rebellious —ought to be taught at the expense of a Christian and a Protestant assernbiy. He warned the Government of the enacts which must be produced in time by the in- stilling of such principles with the money of the public into the minds of the ignorant, and called upon the House to consent to the motion, and thereby restore the Protes- tant character of the nation. General Thompson said Mr. Spooler's argument re- solved itself into an assumption that he was right, and his antagonists wrong. Mr. C. Gilpin hoped the question of religious grants would soon be removed from that House, which did not meet. he t<aid, to support orthodoxy or heterodoxy, but the equal rights of all good citizens. Mr. Hadneld spoke warmly against the appropriation of public money to any particular sect. Upon a division, the motion was negatived by 13.5 to 91. A short conversation ensued on a suggestion made by Mr. Newdpgate, that members unacquainted with the ruips of the House, who had been anxious to address it upon the question, had been precluded from doing so. The Attorney-General, in moving for leive to bring in a BiM to make fraudulent breaches of trust criminally liable, remarked upon the anomaly peculiar to English lalV, which divested theft and robbery when accompanied by breach of trust-that was, when the act was rendered most odious snd abominable-of their criminal character. The den'ii- tion of theft," he observed, was defective in our common law, according to which there could be no larceny in a trustee of property held by him in trust, the trustee being considered the legal owner of the property. He proposed to make the fraudulent conversion by a trustee of property committed to his charge a criminal offence, providing that there should be no criminal proceeding against a trustee without the previous permission of one of the superior courts of law or the Attorney-General. He pointed out various dimcuities which would have to be encountered in this alteration of the law, and the grades of distinction between trusts, some being direct, others resulting, and it would be necessary to consider what were the species of trusts which should be exempted from the criminal category. There were other parties who did not stand in the Jegai relation of trustees—such as directors and managers of joint-stock companies, whom his Bill would render criminally responsible in cases of keeping false accounts, making false entries, issuing false representa- tions accompanied by acts to give colour thereto, and paying dividends out of capital these clauses would also extend to assignees of bankrupts and insolvents. The criminal liability would not interfere with civil remedies. The Attorney-General explained with much persp'c:uty the main features of some of the details of this instalment (as he termed it) of useful law reform, which he thought would have the effect of repressing the frequent recurrence of the offences against which it was aimed, and he intima- ted in the course of his speech his determination to try whether the law as it stood was not strong enough to reach the delinquencies with which the public had recently been so familiar. Mr. Malins expressed hia satisfaction at the measure, which, he added, however, would require great care, in order that it might be at once effective and at the same time not go too far. After a few words from Mr..Hadneld and Mr. Napier, leave was given to introduce the Bill. The Attorney-General then moved for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Act 7th and 8th Victoria, cap. Ill facilitating the winding up the affairs of joint-stock companies unable to meet their pecuniary engagements, and also the Joint-Stock Companies Winding-up Acts. 1848 and 1849. He explained the defective working of the existing law, and its oppressive action through the want of authorized representatives of creditors to make valid and binding arrangements or compromises with shareholders; and be?top? d by this Bill to enable creditors to elect a fre t ?ative who could accept a compositiotn o anled ct bline d t ;oehole body, and to authorize shareholders assoon? terms of arrangement were agreed upon to apply to?the Court and obtain protection from vexatious suits, on Riving security to fulfil those terms. Mr. Matins suggested that it would be an improve- ment if as soon as a winding-up order was obtained the ripht of suing the shareholders should cease. Mr. Deasy spoke in favour of the measure. Mr. WytdHkewise approved the BiU. but hoped the .suggestion of Mr. Malins would not be adopted. The Attornpy-General added a few further expira- tions, and the House having resolved )tse)f into a committee upon the Acts, a resoiution was agreed to, upon which leave was asked and obtained to introduce the Bill A motion by Mr. Marjoribanks, that the Committee on Contracts (PubHc Departments) do consist of 17 members, instead of 15, was opposed by Coionet Botdero and supported by Lord Paimerston. After a short conversation the House divided, when the motion was carried by 136 to 83. On the motion that Mr. Monseil should be one of the two additiona) members, Cotonet Boldero inveighed against this attempt to augment the number of Government oHieiats upon this committee. Mr. Hayter stated the circumstances connected with the formation of the committee, the first list of which he con5idcred unfair. A discussion of some length ensued, but the motion was agreed to. The House, after some further business, adj ourned at haif-pastllo'clock. I FRIDAY, MAY 22. I On the motion that the House at its rising do adjourn until Monday, Lord C. Hamilton inquired what steps had been taken to put an end to the practice of torture in the presidency of Madras since the report of the commission that had proved its prevalence in that presidency whether similar investigations had been instituted in Bombay and Benga! ar.d, if so, whether it was intended to communicate the result of such enquiries to the House. He prefaced his questions by a speech of some length, which provoked unmistakeab)e indications of impatience in the House. Mr. V. Smith complained of the inconvenience of enter- ing into details in respect to such a question on a motion for adjournment, stating, in repty, that .instructions had been sent out to the Supreme Government of India to pre- pare acts imposing additional penalties upon the practice of torture. In repiy to Mr. Hen!ey, Sir B. Hall gave explanations respecting the state and condition of Westminster-bridge and the proceedings taken with reference to the construction of a new bridge. The motion for adjouroment was agreed to. On the motion for going into committee upon the Queen's Message (18th "May). Mr. Roebuck began by premising that he felt his duty upon this occasion to be a divided one, between the Sovereign and the people. White it would be the destre and pleasure of the House, on such ever.t, to meet the wishes of Her Majesty,who had won the affections of her propie, to \Thorn al* had set an example in all the relations of tife, it would sttU be incumbent upon the'n not to forget their duty as representatives of the ration, anu, while generous to the Sovereign, they sho')]d be just to the pecp]e, upon whom they should not pres too hfari! In the case of the marriage of the eldest daughtc:' of George III. the English House of Commons determined tn vo'e a round sum of JL80.000 while that of Iretand voted jLo.OOO a-year. He believed that the great body of his country- men upon the present occasion preferred the former mode, and he hoped that example would be foUowed that a round sum,—a generous sum,—by way of dowry, would be given at once and for ever, and that the nation would not be hampered by an annuity to be paid from year to year. Lord Palmerston recommended the House not to antici- pate the discussion, but to listen first to the proposal about to be submitted to them in committee. The House then resolved itself into a committee The Chancellor of the Exchequer reminded the Com- mittee that the Crntvn of this country possessed large hereditary revenues that these revenues had been sur- rendered to Parliament, constitutional jealousy re- quired thut the Sovereign should be entirely dependent upon the bounty of the nation and that in consequence of this arrangement there arose a corresponding obiigation on the part of Parliament to make a suitable provision for the dignity of the Crown and the Royal family. He then pro ceeded to contrast the Civil List of George III. with that of Her Majesty and adverted to the debts and other ex traordinnry expenditure thrown in former reigns upon Parliamentary or other funds, observing that Her Majesty "inee the commencement of her reign had madc no appeal to Parliament for the payment of Civil Lists debts, but had regulated her household upon principles of strict economy, and fulfilled her contract with the nation. After referring to precedents in the reigm of George II. and George III., he stated that the Government proposed to make a provision for the Princess Royal by an annuity of JE8,000, to be settled upcn her Royal Highness for !ife, from the date of her marriage with Prince Frederick William of Prussia, with a marriage portion of jE4:0,000. Mr. Roebuck moved, by way of amendment, that the marriage portion be by a sum certain, and not by annuity By voting an annuity, he said, we might get into what was termed an entangling alliance," and, looking to the large family the nation would have to provide for, as repre- of a hard-working people, they ought, whilc to be just. Mr. W. Williams said he entirely agreed with the amendment proposed by his hon. and learned friend the member for Sheffield. Me had never known any question relative to the expenditure of the public money in which the people of this country took so deep an interest. He found the universal opinion of the people to be that they ought to advance a round sum to her Royal Highness, and not provide her with an annuity. He wished to deal with the question liberally, but he should be glad to know what the Government intended to do with the JE8.000 a year when the Princess Royal became Queen of Prussia? Nothing could be more offensive than to tax the people of this country to maintain a Q,ic-e-,i of Prussia, or a Q'leen of any other country. There could be no doubt at aUthatthe annuity, if agreed upon, should determine upon her Royal Highness becoming Queen of Prussia. Was the Queen of Prussia to lie a penioner of cries of Divide" and Order.") He should not trouble the com- mittee further at present. Lord John Russell considered that there was nothing c-xtravagant in the proposal of the of the Crown t!)at a capital su:n of E40,000 and an annuity of JES.OOO was by no means an exorbitant for the daughter of the Queen, and he saw no advantage in adopt- ing the proposal of Mr. Roebuck. He believed that no class in the country, however poor, would refuse this mark of affection for the Sovereign. Mr. Disraeli observed that this was one of those subjects upon which unanimity was most desirable. He had always been of opinion that the Crown of England was placed upon these occasions in a painful position. But the House should remember the cause of these appeals—fhe jeafousy of Parliament, which in his opinion, was carried too far and,remembering this, it became them to consider in a generous spirit an appeal not only necessary, but which all were ready to 'velI corne with sympathy and respectful affec- tion. The point in discussion was of a very trivial ter, it would be different; but the principle not being in dispute, the House ought to consider the question in a spirit that would bring it to an amicable and unanimous decision. After some further discussion Mr. Roebuck withdrew his amendment, and a resolution granting the annuity was agreed to, that for the capital sum being deferred until the House was in Committee of Supply. The resolution having been reported, on the order for going into a Committee of Supply, Sir G. Penhell called attention to the increased importa- tion of slaves into the i.-land of Cub1., &nd to the sumcient number and class of Her Majesty's vessels now employed on those coasts for the suppression of the slate trade. Admiral Walcott, from experience, bore testimony to the difficult and perilous nature of the service in attempting to put down the slave trade on the coast of Cuba. Sir C. Wood made a few observations in reply to Sir C. Peehel). In reply to Mr. Kinnaird, Lord Palmerston stated that Lord Clarendon had very recently renewed his representations to the Spanish Govern- ment upon this subject, and no efforts would be wanting, as far as diplomatic action went, to induce the Govern- ment of Madrid to take effectual steps to put down the trade. Mr. Addcrley caltpd attention to the expenditure in- curred in locating the German Legion on the Cape frontier, and to the impolicy of thereby continuing and extending a charge on the revenues of this country in relief of the colonists from the defence of their own frontier. He con- demned strongly the enormous expense attending this disposal of the Legion, which, he contended, was a mistake, and he insisted upon the expediency of acting upon the principle of leaving the colonists to defend their frontier from their own resources Mr.Laboucheresaidthis question, as to the internal de- fence of the Cape, was one of the most important and t most dimcult connected with our colonial empire. He agreed with Mr. Adderley that our policy should be to rely for the defence of our colonies, not upon the troops of the Qnepn, but upon the colonists themselves. But the white population in South Africa were not sutncienuy numerous to contend singly with their savage neighbours. He de- fended the measure of transferring the German Legion to the Cape, instead of disbanding them, string that the net cost of the measure was only about JE60,000. The discussion was continued by Sir Ue Lacy Evans, Major S. Wortfey, Colonel Sykes, and Mr. P. O'Brien. The House then went into a Committee of Supply, when the resolution granting jE40,000 for the marriage portion of her Royal Highness the Princess Royal was agreed to. The Committee then resumed the consideration of the remaining Navy Estimates, which were agreed to, after discussion. On the order for the third reading of the Transportation and Penal Servitude Bill several members pressed for its postponement. Lord PalmersLon said the Bill was of importance, and it was desirable that it should pass speedily. The Bill had not been opposed, and it was too )ate to amend it. After some further conversation with reference to the proposition for postponement, the BiU was read a third time and The remaining business having been disposed of, the House adjourned at twenty minutes past twelve o'clock until Monday, MONDAY, [AY 25. On the bringing up of the report of the Committee on the Annuity to the Princess Roya), Mr. Coningha.m objected to the vote on principle and as a precedent for other votes hereafter, and also to the amount of the vote, which he moved to reduce from ;C8,000 a-vear to X6,000. Lord Pa!merston expressed his regret that Mr. Coningham shouid h:tve a.?ain raised this question, and trusted that the House \?ould abide by the vote of the committee. After a few remarks by Colonel French and Mr. C. Gil- pin, the House divided, when the resolution was atErmed by 328 to 14-a majority of 314. The resolution having been agreed to, a Bill was ordered to be brought in founded thereupon. On the report of the Committee of Supply, Mr Ma?uire objected to the rote of jE40,000 for the mar- riage portion of the Prinee-.s Royal, considering that the annuity of £8,000 was sunlcient. Mr. Coningham and Sir J. Trelawny likewise opposed the vote. Upon a division this vote was likewise affirmed by 361 to 18. The other resolutions (Navy Estimates) were agreed to. On the order for going into a Committee of Supply upon the Army Estimates, Mr. W. WtHiams, In moving that the estimates be re- ferred to a select committee, said they were tarter than any o'her which had been laid before Parliament between the end of the French and the commencement of the Russian wars. They were drawn up in a totally different form from any other estimates, and if he, with some considera- b!e experience of estimates, was entirely unable to under- stand them, what must be the case with regard to the new members. A large part of the army estimates had been voted by the last Parliament 011 account, but no informa- tion was given in these estimates as to how much of each had been voted and how much remained to be voted. If the Government WNe conscious that they were drawn with :i strict regard to the exigencies of the country they could iiave no objection to refer them to a. select committee, and if that committee were fairly chosen he was confident that it wcu)d point out means by which a. reduction might be effected to a large amount. In France the estimates were referred to a committee of the Chamber of Deputies that committee had this year reported that the estimates were extravagant, and that report had appeared in the newspa- pers. He had in his hand a return of the ''ums voted for the army, navy, and ordnance from the year 1S22 up to the year preceding the breaking out of the Russinn war. In 183.5 the estimates submitted by the Government of Sir R. Pee) and the Duke of WellinotoIl and mainty vfted under that of Lord Meibourne amounted to X7,560,000. In the year 1852-3, the year before the commencement of the pre- parations for the war with Russia the amount voted for was £H,030,000. This vear the sum demanded was .61),247,000. The addition to the number of men was but 7.227; therefore, allowing the dinerence of the odd X227,000 for their pay and maintenance, the estimates for the nresent year exf.Mtcd those of 18-52-3 by a sum of 1;2,6oo,ooo sterling; the reason for which he c'.uld not mftkeout. Takingthecstimateafnr the ar'ny, navy, and ordtiance together, the increase was still greater. In the la-it year of the titirefoi-t.)ed then cal!°d the borough mon- .{<:rin_g', P.ulhment, thcy amounted to .E13.294.000.1ess by ,£,),8.)6,000 than the sum required by the present Gr.vern ment. In 183.5 Sir Robert I'epl's estimates for these three tippartments aniounted to 11,6.57,000. !css by .t7.&00,000.— -t sum exceeding the produce of the income-tax a.t 7d. in the pound—than the sutU proposed to be voted this year. In 18.52-3 the votes for the three services made together a sum of L14,755,000, less by ;E1,400,COO than the votes to be -.ubmitted to the Committee this year, which votes amoun- ted to Xlf),150,000. No doubt he should be told that the I army could not be reduced all at once, but as there was in- eluded in the estimates a sum of JE42,000 for recruiting la England, Scotland, and Ireland, it appeared that attempts were being made to increase it. He would not trouble the Mouse with a large number of items (hear, hear), but would only call attention to the camps at Shorncliffe and Aldershott. The cost of Shorncliffe was put down at .B8.481, and there were four general officers and tttofuU. colonels. It was said that our soldiers required to be brought together not only in regiments but in divisions. There were in that House some of the most distinguished ;uUitary officers of the last war, and he should be very much surprised if auy of these gallant oSce.'s would say t:at the British army had ever. when acting in masses, been found in the performance of its duty. The chare for these two camp s was but ;E14,001,) or il5,000, and it wa" not so much to the expense he objected as to what he ccnsi dered the commencement of an attempt to make us a mili- tary nation and to introùuce illto this country a military system tike those which existed under the despotisms of the continent. The navy was our proper defence, and he had never opposed any which were necessary to secure its emciency. The way also in which the accounts were made up rendered it impossible to calculate the exact cost of different regiments in the service but, as far as he could reckon, the cost of the Guards was nearly twice as much as other regimen ts of the line, For his own part, he had never been able to understand the necessity of the proposed increase of the expenditure of the army. It waa said that if England should again be involved in war she ought to be better prepared than she was at the enmmence- ment of the last war. Incompetent men would on 3ccount of their connexions be appointed to command her forces, and after scenes similar to those which occurred in the lato war the newspaper reporters would inform the public of what was going on, and then, when all was over, men of merit would be appointed to commands. He entreated the House to allow these estimates to go to a select committee, when every item might be investigated. This motion was not seconded. Upon the original question, Sir 11. Willoughby inquired who was responsible for the outlay of this expenditure. He thought there was a want of responsibility in this matter, and that the law was much. neglected. also asked why the number of heads of ex- penditure had been reduced. Mr. Spooner put various questions with reference to the Government manufactory and supply of arms. Sir J. Ramsden, in rep)y to Sir H. Willoughby, stated that the Secretary of S t,te for was responsible (or the expenditure of these vote, and that the alteration of the forms ws made with a view of affording fuHer information to the House. He also answered the inquiries of Mr. Spooner. After some further discussion the House went into a Committee of Supply upon the Army Estimates, when Lord ralmcrston made the usual general preliminary ex- planation of the votes. He reminded the Committee that these estimates contained p/erything connected with the War Department, so that the House would see at one --iew the whole of our military expenditure. The first question for the Government, he observed, must naturally be what, under the circumstances of the moment, were the estab- lishments required on the one hand by a due regard to economy, and on the other by the efficiency of the service and the defence of the country. We had not only our own island to defend, but possessions scattered over the globe, and we had to consider what was necessary for both, not only in case of actual war, but against sudden attack. Our position required peculiar precautions, and modern im- provements had greatly altered the conditions of both naval and military warfare, so that this country could not rely, as formerly, upon its naval means. On the other hand, it was the duty of the Government, and of Parliament if the Go- vernment neglected it, to take care that our military estab- lishments were not greater than the exigencies of the country required, recollecting that those establishments ought to be so organized as to be capable of a prompt and speedy entargement, and to contain the elements of science, and so that those who were tIJ command the army were practised in military evolutions. Our regimental organizt- tion had been as perfect as not so the brigade and divisional system, which cou)d only be practised by the movement of troops in bodies. Provhion had been made for remedying this defect in our military system at A)der- shott. There had been other defects,—such M the wiknt of a'fie!d train and a hospital staff,—which were not remedied; and these, with the supernumeraries and the of the artillery, contributed to increase the present estimates as compared with those of 18o3-'54. There was no increase in the infantry of the Line there was a slight increase of the cavalry, and an increase of the engineers and artiHery the number of men being 6,971 men above the estimates of 18.53-51. Lord Pahnerston then entered uppn specific ex- planations with reference to the expenditure for fortiSca- tions.—the defence ofour dockyards and arsenals for im- proved accommodations for the soldiers and barracks upon. new principles for the manufacture of arms, ordnance as well as smal); for clothing and necessaries for the men, and provision for the Education of officers of the army. The total amount required for the effective service of he army was £9,025,360; for the non-effective, X2,221,875, the increase above the estimates of 1853,54 being .61,611,000. Votes were then agreed to, after much discussion, to make up, in addition to the sums already voted, the follow- ing amounts — .€1,388,017 for pay dnd allowances; £.:553,055 for miscellaneous charges; ;E.)0,282 for volunteer corps L184,909 for the Departments of the Secretary for War and the General Commanding in Chief. The Chairman was then ordered to report progress. On the motion for going into committee upon the Bank- ruptcy and Insolvency (Ireland) Bill, Me. Whiteside objected on account of the lateness of the hour. Upon a division, the motion was carried by 121 to 67. The House went into committee but the Chairman was ordered to report progress before any advance was made in the details of the Bill. The Portland Harbour Bi!) passed through committee. The Ctinque Ports Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. The House adjourned at half-past 12 o'clock until Thursday.

———-————————— FiSHiNG EXTRAORDINARY.—The Perthshire Courier re- lates the following :—A party nahing, a few days ago, hooked with a ny a large trout, which, at the first spring, went away with a fine gut cast line and three flies on it. The same individual fishing further up the water on the afternoon of the same day, with bait, found his hook come in contact with something most unmanageable at the bot- tom of the water, and on drawing his line, his astonishment was great to see a fine gut line come up with three trout attached to it. The fnher immediately recognised the cast off gut he had lost in the morning, and could only account for three trout being on it by supposing that the one he hooked in the morning, in moving through the water, had aUracted two of its brethren or, in other words, had gone a fishing for them. Such another instance is perhaps not on record. Never on the Eden has there been a worse season, the strong easterly winds off St. Andrews' Bay and the dry weather preventing good tkes. The Mootrie, which is not for experienced at any time, being only a bait burn, and little removed from a dub-hole at best, has been very poor in its yields of fish, except in some very fine specimens of the eet tribe, with which at all seasons it largely abounds. EXTRAORDINARY MASSACRE OF MiCE.—If ever such a work as IVildSports in the NortA is published, the follow- ing extraordinary narrative may not inappropriately form one of its most interesting passages :—On a recent occasion the tenant of Husby, in the Island of Stronsay, had occa- sion to take down ten stacks of here to be threshed. Oti the first being demolished, it was found to contain an enormous numbey of mice, so much that the parties en- gaged had quite a field-day in slaughtering the animals, many of which succeeded in escaping. Addittonal dogs and men, the ta'ter armed with instruments of torture, were then obtained to assist in despatching the squatters in the remaining nine stacks and at the close of the war of destruction, which occupied several days, it was found that the slain amounted to no less than the almost incredibte number of 3,140; besides an immense quantity that the dogs had devoured, and those that escaped during the as- sault! Never in Orkney, even where whales were captured and killed by hundreds, was such a sight witnessed, as the huge pile of murdered mice, over which their human victors and surfeited dogs gioated at the close of the onset. It is gratifying to be able to ttdd that notwithstanding the number of profitless tenants that occupied this farm the tenant in chief, an enterprising improver, prospers, and will probably take advantage of the heap of slain mice that was gathered under his leadership. It was long main- tained that Stronsay Island was innocent of rats and mice but this fact tetis proof to the contrary. It is now believed that they have recently ;?ot the scent of the good things of this life getting more abundant in the island, and resolved to share in the general improvement which spirited agricul- tural operations are rapidly bringing.about. A LucKY INSURANCE—The West Ktdtng men are sleuth hounds in pursuit of money. Miss Bronte (the authoress of Jane Eyre) related to my husband a curious instance illustrative of this eager desire for riches. A ilJan that she knew, who was a smalt manufacturer, had engaged in many local speculations, which had always turned out we)), and Hereby rendered him a person of some wealth. He was rather past middle age when he bethought himself of insuring his life; and he had only just taken out his policy when he fell ill of a very acute disease, which was eettain to end fatally in a very few days. The doctor, half hesitatingly, revealed to him his hopeless state. "By jingo!" cried he, rousing up at once into life and energy," I shaH do the insurance com- pany! I always was a lucky felloe!—(/e of Charlotte Bi-onte. Mv. WALKiKG TROwsERS.—The Rev. Mr.—was, and is still, celebrated for the exquisite cut of his trowsers. One of the lord-lieutenant's aides-de-camp, also a great dandy, went to the parson's taUor, and begged he would make him just such another pair of inexpressibles as Mr. —'s were. The tailor complied, and the aide-de-jamp was superbly nttcd; but when the young soldier called on some people, and was in the act of siting down, the garment tore right across. Indignant at his failure, be returned to the fashioner and blew him up for his bad work. "Ou, sir," said the tailor, on learnmg the nature of the accident, you should have told me you wanted trowsers to sit down in these were the Rev. Mr.—'a walkin!] trowsers he neTer sits down in them." LECTURING HANNIBAL ON THE AtU_ OF WAR.— After the battle of Waterier, the editor of this biography happened to enter the Duke of Wettington's opera-box in Paris, on some business. The Duke was sitting atone in an upper dark corner of the box, the seats in front being fitted with fastliollablc London men and women, who were wi'h great voiubiii'y discussing the battjp, and assigning a!i the honour to the cavalry. The Duke listened, la,igli-d, aid in a low voice said, I hate told them that !he British infantry won the battle, and all our battles; but it has hf-en intimated to me that I know nothing of the matter, and I expect soon to be told I waa not there.— Gen Sir (.A<M. Napier's Life, 'c.