2 AUGUST 1856, Page 2

rthatto nut rurtritingoin lifirlutinrut.

PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OF THE WEER.

Horse OE Loans. Saturday, July 26. Bishops of London and Durham Retire- ment Bill; Commons' Amendment agreed to—Appropriation Bill read a third time and passed—Leases and Sales of Settled Estates Bill; opposition to Commons' Amendments withdrawn. -- Tuesday, July 29. Royal Assent to the ConsolidatedFund (Appropriation) Bill, Charities Bill, Cambride University Bill, Court of Chancery (Ireland) Receivers Bill, Indemnity Bill, Episcopal and Capitular Estates Continuance Bill, Customs (No. 2) Bill, Bankruptcy (Scotland) Bill, Unlawful Oaths Bill, Intestates' Personal Estates Bill, Oxford College Estates Bill, Marriage-Law (Scotland) Amending Bill, Income and Land Taxes Bill, Stamp-duties Bill, Coast Guard Service Bill, Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill, General Board of Health Continuance Bill, Militia Pay Bill, Cursitor Baron of the Exchequer Bill, Lunatic Asylums Act Amendment Bill, Deeds (Scotland) Bill, Judicial Procedure, &c. (Scotland) Bill, Court of Appeal in Chancery (Ireland) Bill, Mercantile-Law Amendment Bill, Courts of Common Law (Ireland) Bill, Nuisances Removal, gcc. (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill, Formation, &c. of Parishes Bill, Smoke Nuisance Abatement (Metropolis) Act (1813) Amendment Bill, Burial-grounds (Ireland) Bill, Lunatic Asylums (Superannuation) (Ireland) Bill, Joint-Stock Banks Bill, County Courts Acts Amendment Bill, Evidence in Foreign Suits Bill, Bishops of London and Durham Retirement Bill, Metropolis Local Ma- nagement Act Amendment (No. 2) Bill, Vice-President of Committee of Council on Education Bill, Reformatory and Industrial Schools Bill, Poor-Law Amendment (Scotland) Bill, Marriage and Registration Acts Amendment Bill, Criminal Justice Bill, Leases and Sales of Settled Estates Bill—Parliament prorogued till the 7th October.

H01.1sE OE COMMONS. Saturday, July 26. Episcopal Church of Scotland ; Mr. Gladstone's Motion for Papers. Tuesday, July 29. The Chelsea Inquiry ; Colonel North's Question and Notice of Motion—The Prorogation.

TIME-TABLE.

The Lords. The Commons.

Hour of Hour of Meeting. Adjournment.

Saturday 121h lh 301n Tuesday lh 25 30m

Sittings this Week, 2; Time, 25 45m this Session, 59; — 9113h 20m

CLOSE Or THE SESSION.

The session, so far as debating went, came to an end yesterday week. Both Houses met on Saturday between twelve and two o'clock, trans- acted the remaining routine business, and adjourned till Tuesday.

In the Upper House, Mr. Henley's amendment in the preamble of the Bishops Retirement Bill was agreed to, after some hostile remarks on the whole measure from Lord REDESDALE and Lord DUNGANNON.

In the Lower House, Mr. GLADSTONE, making a formal motion for papers, called attention to the legal disabilities of the bishops arid clergy of the Episcopal communion in Scotland. They are prohibited from holding cures of souls or benefices in England. They may, with the li- cence of a bishop, preach, baptize, offer prayers, celebrate the eucharist, and if Bishops, confirm and ordain, and do all other things which are within the episcopal functions ; yet we commit the absurdity of saying that in no case shall they hold a cure of souls. This state of law should be altered. He remarked also, that the Government had determined to withdraw the annual grant of 600/. paid out of the fund for civil contin- gencies to these clergymen. He did not complain of that; but he did complain that it should be done suddenly. Mr. BLACK said that these clergymen are fairly entitled to thegrant during their lifetime, and to the removal of the disabilities. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, he was not aware of the disqualifications which Mr. Gladstone had described, and he thought the present would be a gracious moment to remove them. As to the grant, Government did not feel justified in taking any other course than that of abolishing it altogether.

The Houses did not sit on Monday, but assembled on Tuesday—the House of Lords at one o'clock, the House of Commons at half-past one. In the Commons, while awaiting the moment of prorogation, several Members asked questions, of no great public interest with one exception. Colonel Noniii, referring to the report of the Chelsea Board of Officers, asked whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to take any notice of the very gross neglect which had been exhibited by Sir Charles Trevelyan, who was at the head of the department responsible for supplies of forage ? Lord PALMERSTON said, that Sir Charles Trevelyan had not been examined at Chelsea ; he was only the organ of the Treasury ; "but of course an opportunity will be afforded him of giving any ex- planation he may think necessary." Whereupon Colonel Nowrir gave notice, that next session he should bring the subject under the consider- ation of Parliament. The CHANCELLOR of the Exaczarna observed, that Sir Charles Trevelyan disputes altogether the correctness of the conclusions at which the Board had arrived so far as the Treasury were concerned.

Sir DENHAM Nonarrs was about to put a question, when the Com- mons were summoned to attend the House of Lords. There they found, besides the Royal Commissioners, about a dozen Peers, and a not very numerous assembly of privileged spectators. The Royal Commissioners, whose duty it was to give the Queen's assent to certain bills, and to pro- rogue Parliament, were the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Harrowby, Lord Stanley of Alderley, Lord Willoughby d'Eresby, and Lord Monteagle. A large number. of bills having received the Royal assent in due form, the LORD CHANCELLOR read the following speech.

"My Lords and Gentlemen—We are commanded by her Majesty to re- lease you from further attendance in Parliament, and at the same time to express to you her warm acknowledgments for the zeal and assiduity with which you have applied yourselves to the discharge of your public duties during the session. "When her Majesty met you in Parliament at the opening of the session, her Majesty was engaged, in cooperation with her allies, the Emperor of the French, the King of Sardinia, and the Sultan, in an arduous war, having for its object matters of high European importance ; and her Majesty ap- pealed to your loyalty and patriotism for the neoessary means to carry on that war with the energy and vigour essential to success. You answered nobly the appeal then made to you ; and her Majesty was enabled to prepare for the operations of the expected campaign naval and military forces worthy of the power and reputation of this country. "Happily, it became unnecessary to apply those forces to the purposes for which they had been destined. A treaty was concluded, by which the ob- jects for which the war had been undertaken were fully attained ; and an honourable peace has saved Europe from the calamities of continued war- fare. "Her Majesty trusts that the benefits resulting from that peace will be extensive and permanent; and that, while the friendships and alliances which were cemented by common exertions during the contest will gam strength by mutual interests in peace, those asperities which inherently be- long to conflict will give place to the confidence and good-will with which

Hour of Hour of Meeting. Adjournment.

Saturday Noon .... 25 On Tuesday 14h . 25 30m

Sittings this Week, 2; Time, 35 Om this Session 119; — 8315 22rn

a faithful execution of euz-agments will inspire those who have learnt to respect each other as antagonists. " Her Majesty commands us to thank you for your support in the hour of trial and to express to you her fervent hope that the prosperity of her faith- ful people, which was not materially checked by the pressure of war, may continue, and be increased by the genial influence of peace. "Her Majesty is engaged in negotiations on the subject of questions in connexion with the affairs of Central America ; and her Majesty hopes that the differences which have arisen on those matters between her Majesty's Government and that of the United States may be satisfactorily adjusted. "We are commanded by her Majesty to inform you that her Majesty de- sires to avail herself of this occasion to express the pleasure which it af- forded her to receive during the war in which she has been engaged nu- merous and honourable proofs of loyalty and public spirit from her Majesty's Indian territories, and from those Colonial possessions which constitute so valuable and important a part of the dominions of her Majesty's crown. "Her Majesty has given her cordial assent to the act for rendering more effectual the Police in counties and boroughs in England and Wales. This act will materially add to the security of person and property, and will thus afford increased encouragement to the exertions of honest industry. "Her Majesty rejoices to think that the act for the improvement of the internal arrangements of the University of Cambridge will give fresh powers of usefulness to that ancient and renowned seat of learning. "The act for regulating Joint-Stock Companies will afford additional facilities for the advantageous employment of capital, and will thus tend to promote the development of the resources of the country ; while the acts passed relative to the mercantile laws of England and of Scotland will di- minish the inconvenience which the differences of those laws occasion to her Majesty's subjects engaged in trade. "Her Majesty has seen with satisfaction that you have given your atten- tion to the arrangements connected with County Courts. It is her Majesty's anxious wish that justice should be attainable by all classes of her subjects, with as much speed and with as little expense as may be consistent with the due investigation of the merits of causes to be tried.

"Her Majesty trusts that the act for placing the Coast Guard under the direction of the 'Board of Admiralty will afford the groundwork for arrange- ments for providing, in time of peace, means applicable to national defence on the occurrence of any future emergency. "Gentlemen of the House of Commons—We are commanded by her Ma- jesty to thank you for the readiness with which you have granted the sup- plies for the present year. "My Lords and Gentlemen—Her Majesty commands us to congratulate you on the favourable state of the revenue and upon the thriving con-

dition of all branches of the national industry; and she acknowledges with gratitude the loyalty of her faithful subjects, and that spirit of order and that respect for the law which prevail in every part of her dominions.

"Her Majesty commands us to express her confidence that on Your return to your homes you will promote, by your influence and example, in your several districts, that continued and progressive improvement which is the vital principle of the wellbeing of nations and her Majesty fervently prays that the blessing of Almighty God may attend your steps, and prosper your doings for the welfare and happiness of her people." The remainder of the ceremony consisted in the reading of the Royal commission for the prorogation of Parliament, and the formal declaration by the Lord Chancellor, in the name of the Queen, that Parliament was prorogued until Tuesday the 7th October.

THE CHELSEA REPORT.

The report of the Board of General Officers appointed to inquire into the truth of the animadversions on particular officers embraced in the report of Sir John M'Neill and Colonel Tulloch, or to "receive explanations" from those officers, is a long and lumbering document. The plan adopted is to recite the charge, or animadversion ; then to give the reply; and in each case' except that of Lord Cardigan, to state a judicial opinion. At the outset the Commissioners thus define their proceedings—" It. appeared to us to be very peculiar in its nature, and one with which our military experience had not rendered us conversant, inasmuch as it was an inquiry in England into the correctness of conclusions which Sir John M'Neill and Colonel Tulloch had founded on information obtained by themselves in the Crimea two years previously,- whereas the duties of a court of inquiry are ordinarily limited to an original investigation into certain matters of fact, or into the conduct of certain persons with reference thereto. It appeared to us to be attended with unusual difficulties, inasmuch as some of the statements which were to be inquired into were founded in part on evidence which we had not the means of investigating, and the attendance of several witnesses whom it would have been desirable to examine could not be obtained."

As each case is taken separately, a few references to them will enable the reader to understand what kind of thing the report is.

Lord Luean's atm.—Here the Board first recite the passages of which Lord Lucan complained ; deciding that they are animadversions upon his conduct. Then, examining the implied charges, they find that there were delays and difficulties which "appear to explain sufficiently" why the men were not hutted before February ; that the general charge of want of promptitude or ingenuity" seems to have been founded on the assumption that tools and materials (including canvass) and labour were either at hold or might have been procured from the fleet or from Constantinople,—an as- sumption which does not appear to be borne out by the evidence." They are of opinion that Lord Lucan "used every exertion to meet the peculiar difficulties which he had to contend with, and that he is therefore not chargeable with neglect in the performance of the important duties attached to his command."

General Airey's Case.—The same course is pursued with reference to Sir Richard Airey : the case against him is stated, and his replies, with the opinion of the Board thereon. As regards knapsacks. They were separated from the men, and there was delay in recovering them in consequence of obstacles over which the Quartermaster-General's department had no control. But the Board observe, that "the packs contained very little that could have added to the comfort of the men, a proportion of the men's neces- saries having been left in the squad-bags at Scutari." They find that Sir Richard Airey's mode of apportioning warm clothing was judicious ; only the clothing did not reach the men because there was a deficiency of trans- port. "The requisitions of warm clothing or blankets were greatly in ad- vance of the means of transport." No distinction was made between rugs and blankets : nobody in the Crimea except the Commissioners thought the rugs a substitute for blankets. Every means were taken to issue such coatees and shoes as were useful to One troops, "but all the coatees were found to be too small for the men by reason of the great quantity of under- clothing worn by. them. The shoes were also much too small for all pur- poses of service in the field." In regard to tents, the Quartermaster-Ge- neral is completely exonerated ; for on the 28th November he sent home a " large requiaition" for tents—not complied with until May 1855. "The Quartermaster-General's department completely fulfilled their duty by or- dering huts at an early period from Constantinople " ; but there was no transport. The responsibility of the Quartermaster-Generars department

" was confined to making a requisition." The verdict in the case of Sir Richard and his department is thus put—"We are of opinion, that in the performance of their several duties, neither that officer nor any of those who served under him are justly chargeable with mismanagement or ne- glect ; but that, on the contrary, they used their best exertions to promote, as far as depended upon them, the welfare of the army. That their en- deavours often failed in their object cannot fairly be matter of charge against a department which, although ostensibly responsible for the per- formance of duties of the very first importance to an army in the field, Ia yet left unprovided with any means at its disposal of carrying out its own arrangements, and thus becomes entirely dependent on the precarious aid of other departments, which, on this particular service, were over-taxed far beyond their strength and resources."

Mr. Filder's Case.—This is very minutely gone into, and divided under heads. The great question is, whether Mr. Filder could have obtained more animals ; and whether, when he had got them, he could have fed them. Besides ordering hay at Constantinople, Mr. Filder made a re- quisition on the Treasury for 2000 tons of pressed hay, or 866 tons per month. This was on the 13th September, Sir Charles Trevelyan de- clined to send more than 357 tons a mouth, although he was constantly reminded how inadequate that was. " On the whole," say the Board, " we are of opinion that Commissary-General Filder's conduct in the management of his department was not, and is not, justly liable to the unfavourable animadversion, either express or implied, which is conveyed in the report of the Commissioners ' • and we humbly submit to your Ma- jesty that he does not appear to us to be justly responsible, as regards the- supplies, for the unsalisfactory state of your Majesty's army in the Crimea. during the winter of 1854-'5."

MR. DISRAELI'S RE. VIEW OF TIIE GOVERNMEIPI

" With respect to the first question—the assimilation of the merermtile law of England and Scotland—I cheerfully admit that the Government may be considered to have fairly redeemed their pledge. A measure to change the mercantile law of Scotland has now passed both Houses; and a measure to change the mercantile law of England was introduced in this House. It contained, indeed, a principle of the most dangerous kind, which aimed at terminating the necessity in commercial transactions of written contracts; but the practical sagacity of the House of Commons and the protest of the- whole commercial community saved the country from the dangers of that unfortunate proposition ; that portion of the lain was defeated, and the measure so amended was passed. We may therefore admit that the Govern- ment, on the whole have fairly redeemed the pledge they gave with, respect to the first series oimeasures mentioned in the gracious Speech. How Sir. did we proceed with regard to the improvement of the law of partnership? what were the fortunes of that great bill, which was to be founded upon new principles, which was to be adapted to this advanced and enlightened age, and which, in this peculiarly commercial country, was to facilitate the ap- plication of capital to commerce ? I am bound to admit that there was every evidence of sincerity on the part of the Government with reaped to this second head ; for on the first day we met—the let of February—the important measure was introduced by the Vice-President of the Board of Trade. After discussion—after being amended and reprinted on the 25th of February—on the 10th of March that measure was abandoned. But her Majesty's Government, determined to deal with a question which they be- lieved to be of paramount importance, lost no time in profiting by the discus- sion which had taken place ; and on the 7th of the ensuing month a second bill to amend the law of partnership. and to accomplish all those great objects which I have enumerated was Introduced by the right honourable gentleman. I find that this second bill was introduced on the 7th of April,. and on the 14th of July I find it was abandoned. Here we have an import- ant subject recommended to our attentive consideration' in the gracious. Speech from the Throne ; and not only one bill brought in and abandoned by her Majesty's Ministers but a second bill on the same subject intredueed, and also abandoned. That, Sir, is a very remarkable and unfortunate ca- tastrophe for any department to experience ; but I would take the liberty of reminding_ the House that it is not peculiar to the Vice-President of the Board of Trade, hitherto thought to be so particularly unfortunate in his legislative enterprises. I find that the President of the Poor-law Board was not much more successful. On the 3d of April I find that functionary introducing a bill for the amendment of the Poor-law; and on the 23d of May I find that measure abandoned. I find the same Minister, profiting equally by his experience, on the 23d of May introducing another measure

on the same subject ; and on the 10th of introducing I find that mearma also abandoned. Here we have two Ministers bills upoa subjects of the highest moment, and not only failing in their efforts carry their measures, but recurring again to the experiment, and agaia encountering failure. But, Sir, this double failure is not peculiar to ti.,., Vice-President of the Board of Tmde and the President of

it dealt successfully with most of those great points which are the oppro- brium of our law of marriage. That bill was introduced into our House on the 4th of July ; and on the 17th it was abandoned. The next measure of legal reform related to a subject which is a disgrace, I hesitate not to say, to this civilized and enlightened ago—it dealt with the criminal appropria- tion of trust property. I can conceive no subject more deserving of the at- tention of the Government than this. The most iniquitous consequences have for a long series of years resulted from the state of the law upon this subject ; and I am bound to say that, speaking upon the highest authority —without which I should not presume to allude to the question—I believe that what is taking place in this country almost every day renders it still more necessary that a bill of this kind should pass. That bill was aban- doned on the 21st of July. The next measure, the Church Discipline Bill, was not abandoned, but it was introduced into the other House, and there rejected on a division ; so that none of those five important projects of law, which no one can deny deserved the deep and attentive consideration of Parliament, were passed. I will now allude to the measures proposed with a view to reforming the law in Ireland, in order to see whether we have been more fortunate there. Soon after Parliament met, a bill was intro- duced by the Government for the reform and reconstruction of the Court of Chancery an Ireland. That measure proposed to create two Tice-Chancel- lors at a salary of 3500/. each, to be appointed by the Lord-Lieutenant ; six chief clerks, at a salary of 10001. a year each ; and six junior clerks, at a salary of 3501. each. That bill was followed immediately by another with relation to the Courts of Bankruptcy and Insolvency in Ireland, which was introduced on the 29th of February. It constituted two judges with salaries of 2000/. a year each, a chief registrar with 6001., a chief clerk with 500/., two assistant-registrars with 4001.; and conferred the power of pensioning off, at the full salary of 1200/., a gentleman who was once a Member of this House, and who has held his present office for a space only of two years. The effect which these bills produced was of a startling character. At first it was supposed that they were an ingenious means of compensating the sis- ter country for the failure of the Tipperary Bank. That was the _popular view of the case as it was brought before us. On the 17th July that bill was abandoned. But this is not a solitary case in Irish legislation. A bill with regard to the Juries of Ireland was introduced on the 5th of February; and on the 27th of June it was abandoned. Again, a bill with respect to juve- nile offenders in Ireland was introduced on the 4th of February ; and on the 27th of June it was abandoned. The bill to deal with the metropolitan po- lice of Dublin also was introduced on the 22d cf April, and on the 1st of July it was abandoned. Thus we see that five great measures of legal re- form in England and an equal number in Ireland were introduced by her Majesty's Government, and that every one of those measures has been aban- doned. I admit—because I wish to state the case fairly for the Government —that there were two measures passed with respect to the reform of Irish law which I think will prove to be highly beneficial; but I believe that they are both founded upon measures which were introduced by my honourable and learned friend the Member for Enniskillen [Mr. Whiteside]. I have now gone through those four great subjects which were referred to in her Majesty's Speech from the Throne; and I have placed before the House, with, I hope, no rhetorical efforts, what has been the result of those projected measures of the Government. But her Majesty's Government have introduced many other measures' which cannot be included in any of the categories mentioned i the Royal Speech. Let us see what has been the fate of those measures. First, there is a bill for the superannuation of the members of the Civil Service ; which is a very difficult question, and which has been under the consideration of the Exe- cutive for more than twenty years, and has taxed the utmost efforts of suc- cessive Chancellors of the Exchequer. I had the matter before me, and I proposed to take action upon it : I know that the right honourable gentle- man who was my immediate successor gave his utmost attention also to it, and that the present Chancellor of the Exchequer is a perfect master of the subject; yet so difficult is it that the Government have found themselves unable to grapple with the question. That bill was introduced on the 15th of February; on the 18th of July it was abandoned ; and thus were termi- nated all the hopes of that most meritorious and ill-used body of her Ma- jesty's servants. There is another question with which her Majesty's Go- vernment determined to deal ; and this again is no new question, but one which has long engaged the attention of Parliament. I mean the reform of the Corporation of the City of London. That question has been before Par- liament more or less for the last twenty years. There have been, if I recol- lect aright, two Royal Commissions to investigate the subject ; and never were there more ample materials ready upon which legislation could be founded. The position of the Government with respect to that question was unusually favourable and advantageous, because a colleague of the noble Lord, a Secretary of State, and one of the most distinguished members of the Cabinet, had been one of the Royal Commissioners in the last investigation. Her Majesty's Government having resolved at last to settle this important question, they had the advantage of possessing in the Cabinet one who was completely master of the subject. 'f They had, therefore, such facilities for drawing up a measure so completely adequate to the occasion, so well matured„and so perfectly adapted to the circumstances of the case, that the moment it was announced that they were about to lay a bill in reference to the subject on the table, there was a general belief in this House, in the City, and, I may say, in the country, that at last this great reform would take place. But what has been the result of that mea- sure? It was introduced on the 4th of February ; and on the 26th of June it was abandoned. I have here another catalogue of measures to which I must advert at the risk of wearying the House, because it is of the utmost importance that we should accurately know the data on which the conclu- sions we may arrive at must rest. A bill for the local mana,gement of the Metropolis was introduced by the President of the Board of Works. He is a man, one would suppose, who knew what he was about ; and yet this bill, which was introduced on the 28th of February, on the 9th of May was abandoned. I will now proceed to a department over which another officer, the President of the Board of Health, presides. That right honourable gentleman was originally a member of the profession of Mars, I believe ; and he was therefore not to be daunted by the failures of his col- leagues. He was resolved to show a martial courage befitting his situa- tion; and when he introduced his bill on public health, on the 26th of May, he would not abandon it. He demanded battle—and the bill was rejected. But I am sorry to say, that after this fitful blaze of valour the courage of my right honourable and gallant friend seemed to evaporate. On the 26th of May he introduced a burial bill, which on the 12th of July he abandoned. He also introduced, on the 7th of March, a vaccination bill, which on the 10th of July was abandoned. I have referred to the efforts which were made by the President of the Poor-law Board to amend the Poor-law; but I did scant justice to the legislative enterprise of that right honourable gentleman ; for I find that, besides the two efforts which I have mentioned, the right honourable gentleman introduced a bill on no less difficult a subject than pauper-removal. That bill was introduced on the 1st of April, and on the 27th of June it was abandoned. There was a bill a the Goverement which aimed to deal with a difficulty which many Adminis- trations have had to encounter—the claims of the coalwhippers of London. That bill was introduced on the 28th of April, and on the 4th of July it was abandoned. I will shed a tear over the fate of the bill which was to settle the site of the National Gallery. It was introduced on the 5th of June, and on the 12th of the same month it met a fate which I deplore. It was not abandoned, but it was dealt with in a manner which did not permit us to see more of it this session. There was a bill introduced with respect to the Dulwich charity, which demanded legislation - it was introduced on the 17th of July, and on the 21st of July it was abandoned. The Queen's Col- leges in Ireland engaged the attention of the Government; they introduced a bill on that subject, and on the 15th of July that also was abandoned. The education of the people of Scotland had long engaged the attention of the Government., and tlus_year they introduced a bill which everybody thought, from the spirit of the Lord-Advocate, from the uncompromising tone which seemed to animate his interesting rhetoric, was sure to be persevered with. But no ; it was introduced on the 9th of April, and on the 27th of June it was abandoned. There is another bill before me scarcely second to any of these in importance,—I mean the Agricultural Bill, which met the same melancholy fate. It came down from the other House ; it was never brought on here, but was abandoned. Now, Sir, I ask any gentlemen in this House—I care not where they sit—whether they be votaries of Con- servative progress, as we are,-or whether they be disciples of Liberal move- ment, as honourable Members opposite I suppose are, or ought to be—is this a satisfactory state of affairs ? I ask those honourable gentlemen who take a great part in our business and who are habitual attenders here, whether, before this clear and accurate statement which I have laid before them, they were aware of the extent and importance of legislative failures of the present session ? Not wishing to understate what the Government had done, I mentioned that they had passed two measures which did not come within the group of measures to which I referred at the commencement of my observations. One was with respect to the retirement of bishops. I regret that that was a measure which did not deal with the question, and which, therefore, has settled nothing. It really is not a measure which settles the question of the retirement of bishops. It is a private and per- sonal arrangement, and settles only the retirement of two individuals, and though the question is one which raises considerations of the highest in- terest and importance, none of them are disposed of in that bill. The County Police Bill was also passed by the Government. That was an ex- cellent measure, and I have no wish to depreciate the merit of the Govern- ment in passing it, by reminding them that the subject is one which had long engaged their attention, and respecting which a very matured measure was introduced by the Government of Lord Aberdeen, when the noble Lord opposite was Home Secretary."—Thnes Report of Ali. _Disraeli's Speech on the 25th July.