11 FEBRUARY 1854, Page 12

POSTSCRIPT.

The Earl of Crsitastmarc stated that the counter-project of the Emperor of Russia was not taken to Vienna by Count Orloff, but had been pre- vionsly forwarded by the Austrian Minister at St. Petersburg. Lord Clarendon had no official papers on the subject of Count Orloff's mission; but, so far as he was informed, it had "only reference to the relations and proposed relations between Russia and Austria " ; and the answer given to those proposals was "such as it was fitting to be given by an in- dependent country.'

In reply to further questions respecting the neutrality of Sweden and Denmark, and the selection by Sweden of ports to be closed, Lord CLA- M:HMOS said, that those states had communicated their intentions with respect to neutrality ; that Government approved of their policy, and took no exception to the means of carrying it out ; but that Russia had taken great exception to the system which Sweden has announced.

Pressed again with respect to Count Orloff's mission, he promised to lay on the table any papers that it may be proper to publish relating to matters that do not concern this country.

Another topic was the Reform Bill. Earl GREY, at some length, urged Government not to bring forward the question, at least until the Navy and Army Estimates, and especially the extension of the Militia, had been disposed of. War is more probable than ever. The Reform Bill may not be approved by Parliament. "Are we then, in the midst of preparations for war, to have a dissolution of Parliament or a resignation of the present Ministry ? " Without unbounded confidence in the Mi- nisters, he would look upon their resignation with alarm. A change of Ministers would be attencical with the greatest inconvenience, if not dan- ger. Truk then, Government bring the Reform Bill on before the Army and Navy Estimates ? The Earl of ABERDEEN replied, that the Reform Bill 'would be intro- duced to the House of Commons on Monday. It will not practically in- terfere with the necessary naval and military preparations, as it will not be proceeded with until after the consideration of the istimates. But Government considers its character staked on the introduction of the Re- form Bill.

" Noble Lords," continued Lord Aberdeen, " seem to think that we are actually at war. Now, I must say, that not only is that not the case, but I for one deny, although it has been asserted in this House by various noble Lords, that war is inevitable. On the contrary, although I admit the case is such as to require ample preparation to most the danger of war' yet I do not abandon all hopes of maintaining peace." Ministers, Lord Aberdeen added, would "make all preparations as if war were inevitable," but Mi- nisters cannot admit the mere apprehension of war to prevent them from re- deeming their pledges. The Earl of DERBY said, the objections of Lord Grey had not been met. All our attention should be directed to one object only—" preparing for that war, which, I believe, the noble Earl at the head of the Government is the only man in the country who does not think imminent." Lord Derby deprecated the introduction of a measure sure to excite party spirit and animosities; and which offered temptations requiring great public virtue to resist. He trusted that a sense of the public welfare would pre- vent the opponents of the Government from falling into a snare offered by Ministers, and not be parties to any division until Government called upon them to say " Ay" or " No " on the principle of the measure. A "scene " followed. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE fastened on Lord Aberdeen's statement that we are not at war, and twice asked whether negotiations are going on to stop the hostilities referred to in the Queen's Speech ? Lord ABERDEEN made a general answer, which Lord BEAU- MONT thought unsatisfactory, and he renewed the question—" Are any negotiations now taking place, on the part of this country, for obtaining peace ?" Lord ABERDEEN—" Certainly there are none." Lord BEAUIHONT was continuing, when Lord GRANVILLE rose to order, and commented on the irregularity of these questions respecting the order of business in the House of Commons. Lord CLANRICARDE and Lord GREY stood up for the regularity of asking' questions on such important subjects of public policy ; protesting against the rebuke administered by Lord Granville. Here the subject dropped.

In the House of Commons, on the ordinary motion for adjournment, arose a conversation on the same subject of the Reform Bill. Lord JOCELYN, with a long [preface, asked whether Ministers intended, bona fide, to proceed with the Reform Bill? Lord JOHN -Resume. replied, that on Monday he should bring in the bill ; and in order that the dis- cussion of the Estimates might not be interrupted, he would fixthe second reading for the 13th of March.

Mr. Henn said, if ever there was a time when Government should en- deavour to rally the people to them by a measure of reforin, the present was that time. Mr. Disstarm threw the responsibility of bringing in such a bill at such a period upon Ministers. He shonld nqt oppose the motion on Monday, but if, before the *second reading, Lord John had not confessed the error of his ways, "of course there can be no further re- serve on our parts," and if the country be agitated Ministers will be re- sponsible. If the object of the measure be to reduce the interest which land possesses in the representation—already unjustly diminished—" we shall offer an uncompromising opposition." Mr. BRIGHT came to the support of Government, and attacked the party spirit displayed on Mr. Disraeli's tide. Lord JOHN Mainixas taunted Mr. Bright with holding " select tea-parties," instead of public meetings among his constituents; and sneered at Lord John Russell for suffering the measures he proposed to go into their untimely grives, "un- wept, unhonoured, and unsung." Conversation here made way for business.

Lord jcomr Russnm, obtained leave to bring in two bills ; one, " to con- solidate and amend the laws relating to bribery, treating, and undue in- fluence at elections of Members of Parliament"; 'the other, " to amend

the law for the trial of election petitions, and for inquiring into the ex- istence of corrupt practices at elections of Members to serve in Parlia- ment."

Lord John stated the provisions of the bills at length. He proposes to abolish the high pecuniary penalties for the offence of bribery, and 'rather to debar persons aiming to be elected by corrupt practices from obtaining

their object, than by inflicting' very severe penalties, which may net be en- forced. He proposes that persons guilty of bribery shalt be for ever incapa-

ble of being elected Members of Parliament; and persona guilty of treating

and undue influence shall be incapable of electing any,Member forthe same place during the same Parliament. A cop of ng convictions for bribery shall be kept by the Speaker in a book of • disqualifications; and the names of persona guilty of bribery shall be struck off the register of voters, but kept in a separate list of persons guilty of receiving bribes and published. With respect to election petitions, he would propose that all petitions al- leging corrupt practices shall be referred to a preliminary Committee, which

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should be the in nature of a grand jury," and consist of fifteen members to be chosen by the General Committee of Elections. If they were satisfied that there was a sufficient case, they would report to the House, and a Committee, as usual, would be appointed. If the Election Committee found the peti- tioner had probable grounds, the expense of proceeding to be defrayed by the public ; if the contrary, then the petitioner to pay expenses. . Another mode might be this: when it is proved that an unsuccessful candidate has two-thirds of the votes of his opponent elected by bribery, then that candi- date shall have the seat. Where an Election Committee report that bribery extensively prevails in any borough,. then, without an address, the Crown shall have power to issue a Commissron. He would give the Crown power to nominate Commissioners, restricting the choice to revising barristers. One considerable alteration with respect to Election Committees would be, that upon the dissolution of Parliament, the Crown should appoint ten barristers of ten years' standing to act as assessors to Election Committees, in order to obtain uniformity of decision. He proposed that when a Committee has re- ported any person guilty of bribery, the Attorney-General should prosecute at once.

A number of Members took part in the debate that ensued; all agree- ing that legislation is necessary, some suggesting amendments, and en- tieizing the plans proposed. Mr. HENRY BERKELEY, and others, stood up for vote by ballot, as the only effectual check to bribery and intimida- tion.

Mr. BAINES obtained leave to bring in a bill to abolish in England and Wales the compulsory removal of the poor on the ground of Settlement ; and to make provision for the more equitable distribution of, relief in unions. He scarcely explained his measure further than by showing the nature of the laws which he proposed to abrogate. The law of settle- ment, which originated in the time of Charles the Second, does not, as many suppose, convey the right of relief—that is involved in:the simple fact of destitution ; but it gives to any parish where the pauper would otherwise be chargeable the right of conveying him to "the place of his last settlement"—gained by apprenticeship and some other acts of con- tinued residence. There are 14,614 parishes ; varying excessively in size, in wealth, and population ; and greatly altered in condition since the law was established. The operation of the law is to drive the labouring classes off the estates of landowners, and out of parishes whither they must repair for their daily work, . to towns where they are crowded in unhealthy dwellings ; to divert the natural course of industry,—as where a farmer will give work to a bad workman chargeable on the parish, to keep him out of the workhouse, and deny it to a good workman of another parish, thus depressing the character of labour; to oecasion vexatious removal of poor persons, lest they "complete their settlement"-40,000 persons being removed in the year, at great expense ; to occasion much litigation between parishes and consequent law-expense • and in short, to inflict expense and trouble on parishes, to create unhealthy neighbourhoods in town; to occasion much inconvenience and suffering to the in- dustrious poor, and to impede the free circulation of labour. Ob- jecting to "national rating" and charge on the Consolidated Fund as removed from local control, and viewing equal rating as im- practicable at present, Mr. Baines proposed to correct gross inequalities of rating, by extending the charge from the parish to the union ; which embraces diversities of districts, is a recognized division'of the county, and is subject to local management. Gilbert unions would not be com- prised in the bill. The proposed measure was received with great variety of feeling, but on the whole in a friendly spirit. Several questions were answered by Ministers. On one, put by Mr. Roximex., Lord Joust Russzu. explained, that on the card went to the American Minister at the opening of radioing* were the words "FuA dress." Similar cards were sent to all the Ministers. He did not be- lieve the American Minister had applied to know whether he might ap- pear in any other than full dress. Nothing resembling a difference had arisen between the American and the Foreign Minister on the subject. On another question, Lord JOHN explained, that the combined fleets in

the Black Sea had returned to Beicos because the Admirals felt the ships . .

might be disabled byreinaming at Sinnpe : from Beicos they could send

out screw-ships from time to time-they would not cease to command the Black Sea. He believed the conduet of the Admirals would be found to deserve all approbation.