POSTSCRIPT.
SATURDAY.
Practically there was little business done in either House of Parlia- ment last night ; but several questions were put to the new Ministers, and answered.
In the House of Peers, the Marquis of CLAMRlCARDS announced his intention to ask for the correspondence relating to the proclamation of the French Empire ; and at the seine time to call attention to a very ex- traordinary speech which had been made on that subject. [It is under- stood that the speech of Lord Malmesbury is alluded to.] The Earl of CARDIGAN inquired whether it was the fact that the sol- diers engaged in the Six-mile-bridge affray were about to be prosecuted by the Crown lawyers by the authority of the Government ; and if so, how were the expenses of the defence to be defrayed ? and whether actions, would be brought against the priests who excited the populace? The Earl of ABERDEEN said, the questions were premature, as both matters' were under the consideration of the Irish Government. If the case were so clear as it was represented to be, why did not the late Attorney- General enter a nolle-prosequi ? The Coroner's inquest had given a verdict against the soldiers, and the Court of Queen's Bench had refused to quash the proceedings. It is a matter of course in Ireland that thet Crown lawyers should prosecute.
In the House of Commons, replying to Sir ROBERT NG= and' Mr: MONCETON Mnams, Lord Joira &ssm, stated, that the elause in the decree of 17th November 1852, declaring that no foreigner can "profess" in Spain any other than the Roman Catholic religion, will not occasion any alteration in the treatment of British subjects in Spain ; and that he believed there had been no question as to the performance of funeral cere- monies in the Protestant burial-ground at Madrid. Much mortality having occurred on board four Australian emigrant- ships sent out by the Emigration Commissioners, Mr. HILDYA.RD wished to know whether there had been an inquiry ? Mr. Pazt answered, that Government had received an account of the mortality; it amounted to- 175 deaths, of which 163 were children. The vessels had two decks :. since these deplorable events, the Commissioners have determined to limit the number of children, and only engage single-decked ships in.
Mr. ADDERLEY put an impOrtatit qiiestion in reference to Cape affairs. He asked whether the Constitution Act, with two elective Chambers, is about to come into force, or to be further delayed by the franchise ques- tions; whether the movement of troops into the Orange Sovereignty pro- mised a speedy and permanent establishment of British authority ; and whether it is intended to establish a convict settlement in any part of South Africa ? Mr. PEEL answered, that the constitution is in a state of such forwardness as to admit of the ordinances being sent out by the mail next month ; that it is not intended to establish a convict settlement in any part of South Africa ; and that General Cathcart had not gone into the Sovereignty with any intention of extending British dominion.
Lord DUDLEY STUART brought under the notice of the Home Secretary the disgraceful state of the London grave-yards, especially that of St. Clement Danes in the Strand. Lord PALMEBSTON said, he had been ap- plied to by a deputation from that parish to shut up the grave-yard ; and that an order in Council to effect this would be passed as soon as possible. "Generally speaking, the state of the grave-yards in the Metropolis is a. disgrace to a civilized community " ; and he trusted that the parish author- ities would not be deterred by considerations of expense from taking steps to correct so dreadful an evil.
Lord DUDLEY STUART asked whether it was intended to send out Lord Stratford, or some other individual, to Constantinople ? Lord JOHN RP8- BELL answered, that he had seen Lord Stratford that day on the subject ; that he has had several previous communications with him ; and that it was now arranged that he should go out almost immediately to resume his functions at the Porte. The most curious incident in the proceedings of the House was a notice of question given by Mr. DISRAELI. tWe quote the Times.j The absence of the President of the Board of Control having prevented me from asking a question which ought not to be longer delayed, I give no- tice of my intention to put that question on Monday next, in the hope that he may be in his place, or if, unfortunately, he is not among us, that some of his colleagues may be able to give an answer. The question will relate to a passage in a speech lately made by the right honourable gentleman at Halifax ; and, that there may be no mistake, I shall read the passage. The right honourable gentleman the President of the Board of Control, in ad- dressing his constituents, had occasion to advert to our foreign relations;
ations ; when he said-
Take our nearest neighbours; such a despotism never prevailed in Europe, even is the time of Napoleon the First. The press gagged ; liberty suppressed ; no man allowed to speak his opinion ; the neighbouring country of Belgium forced to gag her press; no press in Europe. free but ours,-(At this point there were loud cries of "Hear, hear I" from the Ministerial side of the House]-which, thank God, he can- not gag-(Renewed cries of " Hear, hear. ")-and hence his hatred of our press, that it alone dares to speak the truth." (Loud cries of " Hear, hear I ") "I give notice, that on Monday I shall ask whether the right honourable gentleman has been correctly reported with reference to the words I have quoted ; because I think it necessary that we should have an answer to that question before we come to a vote relating to our arms."
The Notices of Motion which crowd upon the paper at the renewal of the session brine before us many old familiar subjects. Notice has been given for a Committee of inquiry into Maynooth, with a view to the repeal of the grant-by Lord Winchilsea in one House, for an "early day," and by Mr. Spooner in the other, for Tuesday week. Mr. Frewen makes a move for the repeal of the Hop-duty, on Thursday next. Mr. Henry Drummond takes Tuesday next for the introduction of a bill to facilitate the sale and purchase of land, otherwise a Registry of Deeds Bill. Sir John Pakington, anticipating Government, notified his purpose of calling the attention of the House, on the 24th February, to transportation to Australia. Lord Blandford will take an " early day " to bring in his Capitular Revenues Bill.
Of the Government measures, the statement on Law Reform will be made by the Lord Chancellor on Monday next ; on Tuesday, Mr. Peel will bring in the Clergy Reserves Bill; the Navy Estimates will be dis- cussed on Friday ; on the following Tuesday, the 22d, the Pilotage Bill will be introduced ; and the Committee on Jewish Disabilities on Thurs- day the 24th.
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