ENGLISH NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 32, 16 August 1851, Page 3

ENGLISH NEWS.

! I p^buaMENTAUY Proceedings.—WeendeaI a- to <rive, from the reports in the Guardian Iyo \ ot i]er English journals, a succinct and con--1 ' I:. iuol is history of the principal doings in the I T in , el ial Parliament; from the ministerial I , r 'J s o f which we received intelligence by the I J", s\ e;l (lfast," to the date at which the " Labuan" j ]pf t . 1 "in one week from the rupture, the formation I ( ,f a u entirely new ministry had been found I impossible, —the bringing about of a coalition I equally so. Lord Stanley, it appears, when j jj rst requested to construct an administration, I rem inded the Queen that the late one had not I j, ecu overthrown by his own party, —pointed I out various difficulties in his way, —and recomI mended her to try the practicability of a comI between the knot of statesmen called I the Peel party, and the Whigs ; should the at--1 tempt fail, his own difficulties, he said, would 1 lie in noli diminished. In compliance with this

I advice it was that her Majesty commanded I Lord Aberdeen and Sir J. Graham to meet I Lord J. Russell at Buckingham Palace. A I parley took place, and the Whig Premier laid I before the two statesmen the measures he in--1 tended to propose. The single and specific ob- | stacle to any such coalition was, that both I Aberdeen and Sir James Graham were steadily I opposed to everything like penal legislation 1 against the Roman Catholics. The attempt at I combination having therefore failed, Lord StanI ley endeavoured to redeem his pledge, but the I unhesitating- refusal of Mr. Gladstone and 1 Lord Canning threw him back upon the rej§ sources of his own party, which, by his own H frank admission, were insufficient, and after an B interval of three days, during which Mr. Dis(r.ieli was invisible, and the plans of his Chief H were kept an impenetrable secret, Lord Stau- || lev gave up the hopeless experiment. The H Queen then took a step which evinces at once j| her feminine good sense, and the perplexity of X her situation. She sent for " the Duke." 1 Obedient to orders, the duke arrived at the I; palace. What was the precise nature of the I;interview is unknown ; but the result was, that ■ i for want of substitutes the ministry retained I rtlieir places without the slightest transposition. X Accordingly on Monday, March 3, Lord John ■ Russell informed the House of Commons that It her Majesty, advised by the Duke of WellingEton, had requested her late ministers to resume ■ office, and that under tlie circumstances their wduty to the Queen and country would be best ■ performed by doing so. U On the following Friday the House met to ■pear what modifications would be made by ■ the Government in the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill. Bit was entrusted to Sir George Grey to explain |these changes, which consisted in the total exjjlHugation from the bill of the last three of its jjfiour clauses, striking at writings executed under gjtemtorial titles, and gifts or bequests to titular gfsees, leaving the first clause, which prohibited jjtlie assumption of such titles, alone standing. jjThis bill, if it was worthy of the name, was rejjjceived in the house with ominous displeasure, fcantl not less ominous ridicule. The second read-

jjuig'was postponed fora week. I The unwelcome tidings from the Cape, of the IKaffir war, provoked many questions, impergjiectly answered. It was officially stated that |ie-inforcements of troops had been dispatched jjthitlier. The vote on the Navy Estimates gave jnse to the usual conversation about dock-yards, jamateur ship-building, and the habits' and jjamusements of Lords of the Admiralty, with the jPjial result. The most important and practised of the questions broached was—whether it |vould be better for the nation in future to Ipuucl its ships by contract, or in yards of its own. p The re-appearauce, in the succeeding week, jo' Hie Anti-Papal Aggression measure was the ■signal for a pitched battle. Lord Arundel and puvtey broke the first lance against the prinE °f tlle 1)ilL Mr" Eoirade'.l Palmer, who |*oiio\yed amongst others, dealt with the broad g# uesll °" ably and clearly, and enunciated the gR eat principle of religious liberty with boldness. » -\* speeches on the other side were rather against pMstmg laws relative to Roman Catholics than X r'T' of tlie bill then before the houseRnvt 1 ,crt Pee1 ' in a maiden speech, supfto t l i • bil1 ' aiui declared himself prepared ftfvf - 1S sliare in resisting any attempt to inKntn W the Cliurch of England, and entered |j «» matters of history highly derogatory to the || nuny and reputation of popes and cardinals.

In discussion on the bill at a subsequent day, Sir James Graham delivered a telling speech against it. He dwelt mainly on the Irish branch of the question, Lord John Kussell feebly replied. One point in the two speeches deserves attention—it is a point of divergence. Sir James Graham says positively that the Irish titular bishops acted legitimately in meeting to consult about education, and publishing recommendations to their flocks. Lord John says as positively that he regards that step as an encroachment on the civil power, and that if the clergy use spintual weapons to oppose a Government education scheme, they ought to be put down by penal legislation.

The great debate dragged heavily on. Its weariness began to tell severely, in spite of a strenuous effort to enliven it. Eight and forty members of the house had spoken in the debate before it looked anything like drawing to a close. At length this "consummation devoutly to be wished " was brought about, concluding with a string of elaborate and logical arguments from Mr. Gladstone against the bill, towards the end of which he besought them not to repeat Penelope's process, without Penelope's purpose, nor to undo, in the latter half of the 19th century, that triumph for religious liberty which they had so perseveringly achieved in the former. Little was said after Mr. Gladstone's address. The house became impatient for a division, which was made, and the second reading of the bill was carried by a majority of 343. It was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed.

To the Bill for Preventing Sunday Trading the House was cold and indifferent; it was in consequence considered as shelved.

The Sale of Arsenic Bill was much amended in Parliament. It now provides that poison shall be sold only to adult males in presence of a witness, that the purchaser shall himself sign the entry, and that whenever the quantity sold shall exceed 10 lbs. in weight it shall be coloured with soot or indigo.

Parliament, perhaps moved by urgent necessity, was voting supplies before Sir Charles Wood had patched up the budget for their reception. In point of economy, the balance sheet of the army department deserves credit ; Jor while the numerical complement of the army was increased, its expenses had been screwed down below Cobden's zero, the level of 1835. The regimental schools set on foot by Mr. Sidney Herbert were thriving—regimental libraries had spread—the deposits in regimental saving's banks were increased eightfold jupon their amount in 1844—the daily penny to married men for out-lodgings was increased to twopence—corporal punishment had diminished— good service money increased.

In the bill brought forward for reforming- the Judicature of the Court of Chancery, the chief point was the empowering of the Master of the Rolls, assisted by one of the Common-Law Judges, to act in the absence of the Lord Chancellor. " A convenient arrangement, no doubt," exclaims the Guardian, " for an incapable Judge like Lord Truro, who would, however, willingly have us believe that it is no child of his; while in the Lower House not a voice, save that of its parent (Lord John Russell) was raised in its favour, when some members, approaching with an air of forbearance, relentlessly pulled it to pieces." One feature of the bill has met with much animadversion in the Lords—a clause that has slipped in, transferring the ecclesiastical patronage of the Chancellor to the First Minister of the Crown.

The Irish Viceroyalty Bill is shelved for the Session.

Conversations on the Census, on the plotting of foreign refugees, and the so-called Chancery Reform Bill, have beguiled the leisure of the House of Lords. Lord Lyndhurst has re-ap-peared there, much improved in health. The Passenger Acts Amendment Bill had passed its second reading in the Upper House.

Out of parliament, but directly or indirectly connected with its proceedings,some important changes in the Executive call for notice. By the elevation of Sir John Komilly to the post of Master of the Rolls, opened up by the retirement of Lord Langdale, Sir A. E. Cockburu becomes Attorney-General, and the vacant Solicitor-Generalship is iilled by Mr. Page Wood. Mr. G. C. Turner is nominated to the newly created Vice-Chancellorship. Faithful to his party, the new Master of the Rolls retains his seat in the House of Commons.

On the last day of March a vast operation

was effected with little noise,—nothing less than tbe_ census enumeration of all her Majesty's subjects, with their sexes, ages, callings and conditions. Great and small, rich and poor, old and young, from the prince of the blood to the tramper's baby, all were shortly after enteretl in the Kegistrar-General's books, to be chaptered and categorised by the busy calculators of an office in Somerset House.

On the 3rd of April Lord John Eussell was allowed to bring in a bill to relieve the Jews from the practical disabilities imposed on them by six or seven words in the oath of abjuration. It will no doubt pass the Commons in due time, and be thrown out by the Lords. Lord John does not expect to have it piloted through—he brings it forward merely because he promised his constituents, the electors of London, that he would do so.

Mr. Locke King's County Franchise Bill was quietly entombed one evening at the commencement of April. The " Spectator " says,— " it was literally complimented out of existence —smothered with praise." Lord Torrington had made an exculpatory statement to the charges against him respecting his administration of the Government of Ceylon—it was of course ex parte, —and passed over many awkward points in silence.

The Exhibition.—The preparations for this stupendous project were evidently being carried on with skill and energy. The building was completed, and the arrangement of the articles for exhibition in their respective compartments was rapidly progressing towards the same point. In the week preceding that in which the " Labuan" left England, a very fine equestrian group had been erected, the subject—a mounted horse attacked by a tiger; the material, —zinc covered with copper—being a copy of one in bronze placed in front of the Berlin Museum. A colossal lion in bronze, from Bavaria, was also fixed on a pedestal in the central avenue. The number of agricultural implements was immense, and the jury whose duty it was to make trial of their capabilities had accordingly no easy task. On the English side of the building much labour had been expended, and the most accurate classification of deposits effected. The ■^evening * Express" has entered the lists as an " exhibition paper "and gives frequent double sheets devoted to information respecting it. The " Catalogue of British exhibitors" alone raises ideas completely bewildering. The model of Liverpool had been forwarded to London, packed in several huge boxes. When located in the monster building, it would be arranged and completed by the artist, Mr. Beloe—whose task it would be to clothe the streets and quays with model men and vehicles. Of the former, it is said, that one thousand are contained in a small pill box. The cars, omnibuses, waggons, lorries, floats, &c, have also to be placed, and though equally diminutive, are essential to complete the general effect of the model.

A suggestion had been made that in order to frustrate the efforts of London's " light-lingered gentry," a deposit bank should be instituted, under the management of the Executive Committee of the Exhibition, at which parties, on entering the metropolis, might leave what casli they did not immediately require, and draw daily what would serve for their expenditure, each depositor receiving a bank book, in which he should sign his name opposite to every amount drawn, or if unable to do so, receive a ticket for production on every application, with instructions to keep it separate from his bank book, thuslessening the danger of losing money either by abstraction from the pocket, or by felonious application at the bank.

A pleasure excursion to London and Paris had been organized at Stockholm for the beginning of June ; it was said that live hundred persons had taken tickets.

An Indian manufacturer, Naid Ramayiia, who inhabits the town of Chog, in the valley of Cashmere, had arrived with a magnificent set of shawls for the great show. Of the shawls aiid carpets that will be received at Southampton from the Sultan of Turkey, some are worth 800/. a-piece.

An unfortunate accident happened to an elaborate specimen of decoration, by M'Lachlan, of St. James's street. A gust of wind blew the article from the van, and broke it into a thousand

pieces. A nook has been applied for and obtained, in which to arrange the gorgeous emblems and accessories of the Roman Catholic ritual.

Wyld's great model globe was satisfactorily proceeding-, and appeared to show most completely the great natural features of the earth, both under natural and artificial light.

A protestant mission is about to be commenced to the Eornan States. The suggestion was thrown out some time since by Mr. Blakeney, incumbent of St. Paul's, Ison Green, in a lecture delivered by him. The necessary funds have been raised, and the first missionary is to be sent out immediately. It is said that Mr. Blakeney himself, as the proposer of the plan, is to have the honour of being first selected for the onerous task.

An address has been issued, signed by 22 out of the 26 bishops, (the exceptions being the bishops of Exeter, Bath and Wells, Hereford, and Manchester), recommending those who may have proposed the restoration of any observances practised in the Church prior, to the Reformation, '' to take a more just and sober view of the true position of the Church" to which they belong, and beseeching others "who, by intentional omission, or by neglect and laxity, may have disturbed the uniformity, and weakened the authority of the prescribed ritual, to strengthen the side of order by avoiding all unnecessary deviations from the Church's rule." "It would appear," says the Express, " that even in the prelacy itself, there are two, and those antagonistic, classes of objections to the spirit, tone, and temper of the manifesto." A banquet was given at Merchant Taylors' Hall, on the 2nd of April, by Conservative peers and commoners to Lord Stanley as the acknowledged leader of the party. Sir Thomas Baring, M.P. presided. A public meeting was held on the Ist of April in London, to advocate the repeal of the indirect taxes on knowledge, the paper and newspaper stamp duties, &c. It was there stated that the Penny Cyclopedia had cost a sum of 42,000/., and that the proprietor had derived no benefit from it, though he had to pay for it to government a duty of 16,000/. " Chamber's Miscellany," which had contributed so greatly to the diffusion of knowledge, had to pay a sum of 6,000/., out of 18,000£."which the work cost. Before discontinuing the work, they had received a communication from America, stating that they were to cease from sending their publications to the United States, as the duty on paper made them dearer than they would be if reprinted in America. In every stage of the manufacture of paper the manufacturer was hampered by the excise regulations. The experiments made in making paper from straw were put a stop to by the same regulations.

Sir Alexander Cockburn, the Attorney-Gen-eral, has offered liimself for election for the borough of Southampton. Three Conservative candidates have been applied to oppose his return, but have declined, owing, it is said, to the prospect of a general election.

Much interest had been excited by the trial of the case Doyle v. Wright, in the Lord Chancellor's Court. The case related to a Miss Talbot, niece of the present Earl of Shrewsbury, who had been brought up under the guardianship of Dr. Doyle, who was appointed to that post by the will" of her father, and educated at Tamiton Lodge, a school at which most of the higher ranks of Roman Catholics are brought up. There she remained until 1850, when she attained the age of nineteen. Dr. Doyle now petitioned for an increase of the sum set. apart for her maintenance—while Mr. Graven Berkeley, the step-father of Miss Talbot, petitioned for her removal from the guardianship of Dr. Doyle; and the address of Mr. Berkeley's counsel set forth that the conduct of Dr. Doyle was not free from suspicion, that he sought to persuade his ward to take the veil and thus surrender her property to the uses of the Burnish Church. In course of argument on the case a number of strange circumstances were adduced, relative to the seclusion in which Miss Talbot was brought up—an attempt by the Earl of Shrewsbury, her uncle, to bring about a marriage between her and a French cadet— counterworked by the design ofher guardian to obtain her hand for a young Englishman, and his subsequent machinations to induce her to become a nun. These allegations were met by affidavits, from the Superior of the conventual establishment, and others, and the decision of the Court was giren virtually in favour of neither party -, the prayer of Mr. Berkeley being dismissed with costs, and the heiress being removed, and placed under the guardianship of Lady Njiwhurgh.