null rnrrrlltug inVarlianitut.

PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OP THE WEEK.

HOME or LORDS. Monday, April 5. War with Ara; Lord Ellenborough's State- ment—Foreign Refugee Correspondence ; Lord Mahnesbury's Explanation. Tuesday, April B. Loss of the Birkenhead Steam-Frigate—Indian Administration; Official Secrets—House adjourned till Monday the 19th instant. Hoene or COMMON& Monday, April 5. Militia-service Franchise: Mr. Walpole's Blunder—Ministerial Policy ; Mr. Osborne's Debate—Ionian Islands; Mr. Hume's Charges against Sir Henry 'Ward—Caffre War Expenses; Vote in Supply—Corrupt Practices at Elections Bill, passed through Committee ; Ministers outvoted. Tuesday. April 6. Public Business Arrangements—Parana and Uruguay—Ballast- Beaters; Bill to be brought in by Mr. George Thompson—County Courts Further Extension Bill; Amendments considered in Committee—Corrupt Practices at Elec- tions, considered in Committee as amended—House counted out ; and adjourned to Monday the lOth instant.

TIME- TABLE.

The Commons.

Rein'Tut o !dal; Meeting. Adjournment.

Rein' of Hour of }h th 43m 4h .(sn) Ili 30m

Sittings this Week , 2; Time, 19h Ibm — this Session. 34; — 2088 eola POLICY OP THE DERBY GOVERNMENT.

One more debate before Easter, on the policy of the Derby Government, was extemporized in the House of Commons on Monday. Mr. BERNAL OSBORNE seized that "last day of Supply before Easter," to try and draw from the Ministers some more explicit detail of their policy than they have yet given to the country ; and he addressed himself to the task in a speech full of point and sarcastic raillery ; his general drift being to con- trast the conduct of the Ministers as recent members of the Opposition and as present members of the Government. He made a special application of the language of Lord Malmesbury to Prince Schwarzenberg, recently quoted to both Houses in the debate on the Foreign Refugee question : our Foreign Secretary told the Austrian Minister that Lord Derby felt sure the best foundation for a good understanding be- tween civilized nations was a frank and honest exposition of principles to be frankly and honestly acted upon; but if the Foreign Minister of England held that sentiment to a Foreign Government, how much more should the English Ministry act on it towards the English people? Mr. Osborne opened the budget of his difficulties by reference to the "one instance of intemperate reforming zeal" displayed by Mr. Walpole, who had just withdrawn his Militia-service franchise for counties : did that blank cartridge of a Reform Bill wrapped up in a Militia. Bill form one of the "necessary measures " ? In another part of his speech, he said that their military franchise was imi- tated from a proposal made by Orator Hunt in 1831, as the best feature of their Militia Bill was stolen from a pamphlet published by Mr. Frederick Hill in 1848. Glancing at the "sect of the Derbyites," founded on the new dogma that a Protectionist is one who believes in Lord Derby, he brought apt quotations from the poets and dramatists, illustrative of " chivalry " on the one hand, but of caution, collusive transaction, and trickery, on the other hand : then he ran a parallel between the Stanley chivalry of the past—both in ancient strife of arms and in modern strife of politics—with the apparent evasions of the present Derby Ministry—shown in their evasive explanations in Parliament, their ambiguous addresses to electors, and even the doubla and contradictory attitude taken by one and the other of them to different constituencies. Having worked out his parallel, he mockingly apostro-

The Lords.

Hour of Hour of

Meeting. Adjournment. Xonday ....7520w

Tuesday 311 .... 35 30m

Sittings this eek, ; Time, 35 2051

tiashesslon. 28; — 5311 20m

phized tin m. Did this show the soul of chixalry ? did it not rather partake of the sly practices of the cockpit, than sbew.the liold vigour of the tilting. yard ? did it not resemble the peculiar.practices of Newmarket, rather them tjaeseldvalry of Floddcn field ? And 80 miming to the comparison and illns. tritipg it agaiin aid again by fresh instances, he sarcastically developed to higla2point the nature cif ;the anyetificatIon .under which he labours and the CQW..*v EURO, as to the real intentions and policy of the Government Would they enlighten him and disembarrass alle-eenntry, by a real explana- tion ? Ministers were disturbed by the well-directed fire. Lord Jorrsr MAx_ BEES, one of the youngest of them, leaped up eagerly, to defy rather thou explain—to vindicate the chivalry which bad been impugned. Be re. buked "these nightly interruptions of all business" : he dared the Opp°. sition to test by a division the triumphant majority of -which they boast so much ; and he bade them cease their taunts and factious talk if they were not prepared to stand that test. But Mr. ROEBUCK reduplicated and made more specific the charges im- plied by Mr. Osborne, that the Ministry are holding office on false pre., tences. He recalled the envenomed persecution with which Mr. Disraeli pursued Sir Robert Peel when he avowed his changed opinion, and relinquished a policy which be thought would involve peril to the nation. He traced the steps by which Mr. Disraeli has come to office as a great Protectionist chief; and then he asked, "Is it not, however, well known now, that the honour- able gentleman is playing a game ? "—well aware that Protection is gone, and in fact is preparing to abandon Protection though he professes no change of opinion. He went on to point out, that by this double dealing the Ministry has the advantage of a minority and a majority too : as a minority, they are exempt from proposing measures; while the majority is prevented from pro- posing any against them. But while parties thus balance each other in strife, the country drifts to leeward. The Opposition are responsible for this. If they are a majority, lerthem act as such ; if they are not, let the country know its danger. Lord John Russell should bring it to the test: if he did, the country would support him ; if he did not, it would judge him.

MT.*ADDERLEY fastened upon some expressions in Mr. Roebuck's speech, as self-refuting—the illogical fallacy that Ministers could be at once unintelligible and full of false pretences. He suggested, that if the phrase "necessary measures" be vague as a definition, it can be made precise in practice by throwing Qut the first measure proposed by Minis- ters that the Opposition think not necessary. To parry the imputation of dishonesty, brought against Protectionists for abandoning Protection, he said it was one thing to abandon principles and take up the opposite, as Sir Robert Peel did, and another to acknowledge inability to carry out principles and a policy against the opinion of the country. He spoke for himself only, as an independent Member, and as he had felt for many

months past.

Mr CHARLES VarxrEns defended himself from taunts which have been levelled at him for not proceeding with the motion he announced when the present Administration was formed. That motion became unnecessary when Lord Derby confessed himself to be in a minority ; and when Mr. "Disraeli answered specifically, "The hon- ourable gentleman has asked me whether we intend to propose a fixed duty on corn, and I beg to say we do not intend to do so." That satisfied Mr. Villiers that the right honourable gentleman had abandoned his policy. Be had no party object 'whatever in putting the eitiestion ; and if Ministers would abandon their policy, be should be as satisfied with them as he had been with the two other Governments preceding them, who had done the same—those of Lord Melbourne and Sir Robert Peel. There had been a most extraordinary admission made now, by one who was by no means the least competent man to form an opinion—that the national feeling is against Protection. Therefore we have a House of Commons unchanged, and the national feeling agreeing with the House and in favour of Free- trade : why, then, should there be a dissolution ? The Government are about to appeal to a general election, with a view to their reappearance be- fore Parliament, if the country reject them as Protectionists, in the charac- ter of Conservatives. Mr. Villiers much doubted whether they would re- ceive more favour at the hands of the country in the one character than in the other. There had been observed in them of late many things exceedingly unlike the old Conservative party. So far as he knew the old Tory party, pretty well all their political proceedings were wrong ; but this was ever known to their honour, that they were bold—that they were straightforward —that they were chivalrous—that you could rely upon them. The proceed- ings of the party now in power, during the last six weeks, can scarcely be deemed as ranking them within any such category. Never had a straightforward answer been given by them to any question. As mat- ters now stand, there is no knowing from day to day what the Govern- ment will do or will not do. On Saturday night every honourable gentleman went to bed believing they were going to have a new Reform Bill, with a large extension of the suffrage, on new principles,—not based on education, that was old; not on property, that was unnecessary ; but on two years' service -in the Militia. Now the great Conservative party come down and say they are not going to have anything of the sort ; that was merely a joke of Lord Derby. No doubt, there is in the country a considerable number of gentlemen Conservatives, and honourably entitled to the designa- tion; but do the Government, acting as they have been acting, imagine they can be accepted by those gentlemen as their representatives ? It may be equally true that the country was not indisposed for the late change of Go- vernment: the people grow tired of old faces, and like chonge from time to time; but the country will by no means take to a set of Ministers who re- fuse to come forward like men and state what they mean to do.

Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT took the opportunity which he had not before obtained of speaking generally on the attitude and engagements of the Ministry. This speech was remarkably characterized by a grave, earnest, conciliatory feeling. He spoke of the obloquy he and his friends have passed through—of the political ostracism they have suffered; and though he admitted it to have been a necessary consequence, he gloried in his own share of the repeal of the Corn-law. He disclaimed any desire to "pin the Chancellor of the Exchequer to a five-shilling duty." He should feel joy over the repentance of every political sinner and he offered, "if there is a bridge to be built1 and he could contribute an arch," to add that arch cheerfully. He thought it a great misfortune that a large party, comprising many men of public as well as private virtues, should iden- tify themselves with what is hateful to the people ; and amusingly, but with rather more severity of point than he seemed to intend, asked, "What, after all, was the Corn-law, which you wish in some degree, however small, to see back, but a system of out-door relief to the countrY gentlemen ? " He said he was quite satisfied with the promises of the Ministry, and he would go to the general election with perfect confidence.

Mr. Moos); made a smart Anti-Whig speech ; confessing-that Protection is gone, but consoling himself that the people of Ireland have ummimouslY,

irrevocably, and irreversibly decreed that Lord John Russell at all events shall never again sit on the Treasury-bench as Prime Minister. Mr. NEWDEGATE informed the House, as Chairman of the acting Com- mittee of the Central Protection Society, that the whole of those societies throughout the kingdom have confidence in Lord Derby's opinions; and will not withdraw their confidence if he protract the session, or do not im- mediately announce a definite policy.

The other speakers were Mr. HENLEY, in the same tone of stout defi- ance shown by Lord John Manners, but not with quite the same juvenile baughtiness ; Sir Jelin TYRELL, in some indignation at the "out-door relief" sarcasm against the country gentlemen ; and Mr. PHILIP Ho- wen])' to remind the House that it had been usual for statesmen to ex- plain fully their policy on entering office.

THE Mri.rma-saavrez FRANCHISE.

Mr. W.a.troLx, soon after the commencement of business on Monday, retracted the Militia-service franchise with which he startled the drowsy Members at a late hour on Friday night. In reply to a question by Colonel ROMILLY the Home Secretary said that he had intended to take the earliest opportunity that day—even if no question had been put—of stating that he had made the announcement of last week "too hastily." The proposition originated with himself, and he thought it would have served three good purposes,—first, to induce respectable men to volunteer for the Militia ; second, to insure continuous residence ; and thirdly, to reward the service done to the public by volunteering into the Militia. Since he gave that notice, however, he had had an opportunity of consulting more fully with all his colleagues ; and it was found that the plan which was pro- posed was open to so many objections, that he had intended, as before stated, to withdraw the notice which he had given.

CORRUPT PRACTICES AT ELECTIONS.

In Committee on the Corrupt Practices at Elections Bill, on Monday, Mt WALPOLE proposed some amendments. The first was to omit the words "and for such period retrospectively as they shall think fit"- which al- lowed an unlimited discretion to the Commissioners to give their inquiries a wide range over past as well as contemporary iniquities. The ATroRNEY- GENERAL and the two Members for St. Alban's, Mr. RroroN and Mr. JACOB BELL, supported the amendment Lord Some RUSSELL and Sir ALEXANDER COCKBURN opposed it ; and on a division they defeated it ; the numbers against Ministers being 116 to 99. Mr. MILLINGS then moved an amendment which would extend the bill to the givers of bribes as well as the receivers of them. Sir ALErcsionize. COCKBURN opposed this, as not within the scope of the bill ; which was to inquire into the corruption of the constituencies, not to meet the case of persons who wish to bribe electors. Mr. STUA.RT cried shame on this "wicked hypocrisy." Sir ALEXANDER COCKBURN repelled the insinuation with warmth. The amendment was withdrawn; and the clauses of the bill were all agreed to.

COUNTY COURTS EXTENSION.

A seeming attempt to clog the progress of the County Courts Ex- tension Bill was made on Tuesday by the Arronstmr-Grammtz., and Mr. JonN STUART. They said, that as a bill was announced by the Government for a reform in the Court of Chancery, which would abolish the Masters in Chancery, it would be clearly better not to proceed with this bill till that point were settled. But Sir ALEXANDRE Coexnuniv asked the Attorney-General to state what progress had been made with the Chancery Reform Bill, or what were the views of the Government. The ATToRNEY-GENERAL confessed that he could give no dis- tinct answer to the questions. Sir ALEXANDER COCKBURN then pressed the House not to consent to delays. Mr. Frrzreor said, the general opinion out of doors was that the Chancery Reform Bill is only a device for staving off the bona fide measures of private Members. Sir GEORGE STRICKLAND, Lord ROBERT GROSVENOR, and others, backed up Mr. Fitzroy, and at last the bill was forwarded a stage in Committee.

PUBLIC BUSINESS.

The CHANCELLOR of the ExcHmorraa, on Tuesday, explained the course in which he proposed to proceed with public business after the Easter recess.

On Monday the 19th instant, the President of the Board of Control would move the appointment of a Select Committee on Indian affairs. On the 231, according to the wish of the House, the Militia Bill would be proceeded with. He would then propose, that, with the exception of questions of great urgency, such as the financial statement, or questions of that description, they should proceed with the Militia Bill and with the Estimates. [A Mem- ber—" The Miscellaneous Estimates ? "] Yes, the Miscellaneous Estimates. He anticipated that the discussion on Indian affairs would occupy some time, but he would place such other business on the paper for the 19th as would not require a very full attendance of Members. In answer to a question by Lord JOHN RUSSELL, did he mean after the holydays to propose that Orders of the Day should take precedence of Notices on Thursdays, Mr. Dammam said, he had always felt that the Privileges of independent Members were sacrificed by the Government taking the Thursdays from them. He would "consider" the subject, and state the result after the holydays.

BALLAST-HEAVERS : A Lanonn-DkrOr.

A cursory debate arose on the motion of Mr. GEORGE THOMPSON for leave to bring in a bill similar to the Coalwhippers Act, to establish a registration-office for the benefit of the ballast-heavers of the port of Lon- don. Members on both sides of the House concurred in the feeling that the experiment which was successful in the case of the coalwhippers might be tried with the ballast-heavers, who are, as a class, in the same state of abject dependency on a few public-house keepers that the coal- whippers were in before their act passed. Mr. HENLEY admitted a strong special case, and would not oppose a first reading ; but "he could not conceal from himself that it was now proposed to create another mo- nopoly, and to compel the employers of labour to go to a particular place to seek for that labour." Mr. LABOUCHERE admitted that such measures Were "against principle," but he was convinced by the "preponderance of good over evil" worked by the Coalwhippers Act. Mr. GLADSTONE avowed great pleasure at seeing gentlemen of all shades of opinion dis- cussing this question so dispassionately. He felt the difficulties ; and thought that they should extend the category of exceptions from general Principle with the utmost jealousy, and only on the broadest and clearest grounds. The House went into Committee, and instructed Mr. Thomp- son to prepare a bill.

In the course of the discussion, Mr. WAXLEY made a suggestion—

Re believed that some regulation might be made for the establishment of an office for the benefit of the operatives; not to be under the surveillance of the Government, but to afford them the means of disposing of their labour to the greatest advantage. It would confer an indescribable advantage on the working classes if there were such an office in the Metropolis connected with all the districts of the country, where information might be bad as to a supply of labour when required, and where the labourers themselves might have the opportunity of disposint; of their labour. Nothing would be more easy than to establish such an office.

Sir HENRY Wul.otromar approved of the suggestion, and said be would be glad to hear from the Government a statement as to the feasibility of such a plan. But no further notice was taken of it.

THE CAPPRE WAR AND THE CAPE COLONT.

The vote of 460,000t towards the expenses of the Caffre war, proposed in Committee of Supply, led to a debate opened by Sir Wimaast Moms- WORTH.

Sir William went thoroughly into the whole question of our expenditure on account of South Africa ; to show, first, the enormous increase and amount of that expenditure ; and secondly, that it is due to the abolition of the old and cheap system of self-protection by the colonists themselves. Our force was 4500 in 1816, and from that year down to 1833 it diminished yearly under the old system till it was but 2000 men. In that year our ex- penditure was 100,0001. But the old system was then discontinued, and the colonists were prevented from using the Commando mode of defense, and the expense increased so that the average cost of the three years of peace ending in 1846 was 280,0001. ; and it is about 1,000,0001. a year. In fact, our peace and our war expenditure have both increased fourfold, and our last peace ex- penditure exceeded our old war expenditure by about fifty per cent. This is the result of entering into "diplomatic relations" with chiefs whom Sandilli himself describes as irreclaimable thieves." Under the old system, when men defended themselves, minor wrongs were overlooked • now, when Go- vernment is answerable, every lost goat is said to be stolen by the Caffres, and its recovery is expected, as a duty to be performed with the whole 'power of the nation. The average cost of the horses and cattle lost yearly (about 60001.) would be paid by the interest of one-fifth of the cost of a year of Caffre

War.

Diverging from the immediate subject to touch on the causes and conduct of the present war, Sir William expressed his belief that Sir Harry Smith should, for civil reasons, have been recalled long ago ; but on the military question, speaking diffidently, he saw no difference between the present tac- tics of Sir Harry and those by which in former Caffre wars he gained great renown. Referring to the opinion of the Duke of Wellington, that roads should be opened and the fastnesses be destroyed, he showed, from the pecu- liar natural features of the ground, and the remarkable character of the African "bush," both unlike those of any other part of the globe, that this would be impracticable. Recurring to the main theme, he said he saw no hope of more moderate costs but in giving back to the colonists the power of self-defence ; and giving to them the freest institutions, and the complete control over their local affairs.

Mr. GLADSTONE supported the same views.

Referring to the experience of our North American Colonies, and their suc- cess in managing their own frontier relations with the savage and powerful tribes among which they were at first thrown, he said that he was not eo visionary as to imagine we could do away with the military establishments on the frontier; but he wanted to see the centre of authority carried back to the place from which it ought never to have been removed, and to see the frontier question made a colonial question.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL "saw difficulties."

The case of the Colonies did not go altogether the way assumed, nor that of the American States. As to the first, many of the first bodies of colonists were massacred : would that result be satisfactory ? As to the second, the Central Government of America does not leave the frontier questions to the States : the last year's expense of repelling savages was 700,000/. more to the central authority than in the preceding year. Lord John would neither leave the colonists to be butchered, nor would he enormously extend our frontier ; but would pursue a "middle course." He concluded his speech by a compliment to Sir Andries Stockenstrom, and a word in favour of Sir Harry Smith's untarnished military reputation.

Sir JOHN PA.XINGTON echoed the praises of Sir Harry Smith's military services ; but observed that it was by him chiefly that the policy of an- nexation and enormously extending our frontier, already too wide, was practised. The last of those annexations, that of the Orange River Sovereignty, Earl Grey had renounced, and the despatch should have been received by Sir Harry Smith about the same time that he got the recommendations of the Commissioners for organizing a Britieh Government in the territory so aban- doned.

Mr. ROEBUIB observed, that the real difficulty is of an Exeter Hall character : if you let the colonists defend themselves, they gradually ex- terminate the aborigines. Mr. ADDERLRY said, that the future peace of the colony would much depend on the next despatch sent out by the present Colonial Secretary. Re expressed confidence in Sir John Pakington, and in the ability which he has already shown in his department. He was convinced that the first despatch of Sir John would give satisfaction to the ooloniats as it had given satisfaction to those individuals in London who are interested in the colony ; and would lead them to hope for the panacea of all the evils of the colony, the bent tide carrying out of the promised constitution. Mr. FREDERICK PEEL said, that whenever Mr. Adderley should chooser to bring on his abandoned motion against Earl Grey, he will be "ready to vindicate" Lord Grey's policy, and especially with regard to the de- spatch which was made the principal ground of accusation." Mr. HENRY DRUMMOND said, that the abandonment of Mr. Adderley's motion was another proof to him that there is no subject of public interest or private justice which is not interfered with by factious and party mo- tives. He described Earl Grey's despatch as a "shameful despatch"; and said he believed that if Sir Harry Smith had been a Lord of the Bed- chamber, or a relation of a Cabinet Minister, that despatch would never have been written. '

Lord Sous/ Russet', rose to this taunt. Ile justified the despatch; it expressed the unanimous opinion of the Ca- binet. As to the insinuation, nr repeated, which referred to Lord Tor rington, it is tree that Lord Torrington is a distant relation of Lord John Russell, but he did not owe his appointment to that : Lord John in fact sug- gested three or four other persons, to all of whom Earl Grey offered the ap- pointment and they refused it; and when at last Lord Torrington was suggested "to Earl Grey, the suggestion did not orieinate with Lord John. In fact, all that Lord Torrington gamed by relationship to him, VMS the or- deal of a most unfair and unjust treatment.

THE IONIAN ISLAND& The review of the affairs of the Ionian Islands, which Mr. Hums lately said he should postpone till Goverrrment had received the papers he asked for from the Islands, was made by him, in brief and anticipatory

manner, before going into Committee of Supply on Monday. The heavy vote to be asked for the Caffre war suggested to him that he might im- press the House with the seriousness of a state of things in the Seven Islands which might bring on us the necessity for similar expenses to sub- due a people insurgent there under bad government. But the facts which he advanced were not fresh : they were, in fact, only some few out of the larger budget of them which he has before exhibited ; and the only interest of the debate lay in the part taken by Sir Jostle Parrirearosr and Mr. FREDERICK PEEL. Mr. Hume demanded the recall of Sir Henry Ward. Sir Joliet PAKINGTON reninded the House' that Sir Henry Ward was no partisan of the present Ministers, and that they are not called on to defend all his conduct : but they think, that though he may have here and there been led into indiscretions, he has, under circumstances of ex- traordinary difficulty and emergency, honestly, anxiously, and ably en- deavoured to maintain the authority of the Crown, and is therefore en- titled to a fair and frank support from the Government. Sir John Peking- ton avowed his own opinion that the Ionians are unfit for self-govern- ment. Mr. FREDERICK PEEL admitted that Sir Henry Ward may have occasionally erred, but maintained that on the whole he had entitled him- self to the gratitude of the Ionian people. On the general capacity of the Ionians for self-government Mr. Peel controverted Sir John Pakington's views.

There was no motion ; so the discussion ended as it began—indefinitely. WAR WITH THE KING OF AvA.

The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH brought his Indian experience and studies to bear with good effect on the grave news from India concerning the war with Ava.

The Government of India clung to the last to a hope that war would not take place ; but we are now at war with Ava; and it would seem that the Government of India made requisitions which must necessarily lead to that war, and yet undertook none of those preparations which such a war would of necessity require. He would recall the circumstances of the last war, that the magnitude of the present crisis might be seen. In that war we sent a force as large as the army which Bonaparte took with him to conquer Egypt-40,000 men. Of those, 7000 were Europeans. "Of the European troops, two regiments, the Thirteenth and the Thirty-eighth, left Calcutta in April 1824, 1800 strong ; and in January 1826 they had not 500 men left fit for service in the field. I doubt much whether at the end of that war 10,000 men out of the whole 40,000 were fit for duty in the field." The army landed at Rangoon on the llth of May, and it was not able to move till the 11th of February—eleven months! "The troops lived entirely on salt provisions. No fresh provisions were to be had in the country • and when bullocks were sent them, every bullock sent from India cost in freight 10/. Notwithstanding the great amount of the force sent to Ave, I believe that the general in advancing on the capital of that country had never more than 5500 men under arms, and I know that on the 24th of February 1826 he had with him only 4000 men." It is true we had now advantages that we did not then possess for the transport of troops: but though we could gain time in transport, we could not save much money ; and the nine months of unhealthy season remain. Our large steamers draw too much water to allow of their proceeding far above Rangoon ; and if smaller steamers be used to take them higher, or to tow gun-boats, those can- not be used to carry the cattle which are necessary the moment the army leaves the banks of the river. Then, in the last war, Rangoon was attacked by surprise and was taken by 10,000 troops ; and the great Pagoda, which was the protection of it and the key to it, was unoccupied and unfortified. Now, there is a great army ; the old town has been razed, and rebuilt four miles away from the river ; and the Pagoda is fortified and stockaded in every direction, and rises 200 feet above the river, commanding it with 100guns ; and we take but 7000 troops in all our force. There are home anxieties too. European regiments are taken from Fort William and Fort St. David; so that, in front of the Nepaulese, we are withdrawing the only regiment which we have to defend Calcutta. In the last war it was the per- sonal influence of Sir Thomas Munro alone which enabled the Government to withdraw from the Madras presidency 28,000 men, including Europeans : such a step would be more difficult now. The Madras army may be needed in the kingdom of Oude ; the King has not vet complied with our demands ; and the Arabs occupy,Hyderabad, and all the forts around it. "I remember, with regret, certain passages in the recent history of the Madras army which make me doubt whether we can despatch a large force of it from that pre- sidency on service beyond the sea. The Bengal soldier is accustomed to leave his wife and family in his native village when called into active service, but the soldiers of the Madras army take their wives and children with them into the camp ; so that when they go beyond the sea all their families form a village, which is left without means of support. When I arrived, some years ago, at Madras, I found two regiments there, I will not say in a state of mutiny, but so disinclined to proceed to China that it became a matter of deep anxiety and apprehension to the Government ; and the cause of this disinclination was the terrible state of misery and distress in which the wives and children of the men of the regiments which had already sailed for China were left. I see, my Lords, no alteration in the regulations of the service which can relieve these persons from the distress which they suffer when their husbands and fathers proceed beyond the sea."

But he would assume, "for he doubted it not," that we have "entire suc- cess in the war." The result would be the entire dissolution of the Bur- mese empire ; and then the Governor-General would become subject to great and serious pressure as to the policy he should adopt. Enterprising British merchants would urge him' now they have exhausted the teak forests on one side of the river, to enable them to acquire those on the other side, and ex- tend their trade with Rangoon. The Calcutta Toms is urging that an over- land route to China might be opened from the North-eastern frontier of Bur- mah, if we annexed the whole empire. The Bengal army remembers the

great career which the conquest of the Punjau i

b opened up to t, and iaJooking forward naturally to the new field for its great talents and ambition; and part of the civil service partakes in the hopes and aims of the army. But the annexation of Burmah, or even of any part of it, would be essentially a false position ; and we have seen that such are not to be maintained permanently, with the greatest abilit and the most perfect equipments of our armies.

"A false position if% us to an empire as it is to an army, and always ultimately vmdi se who sin against the first principles of true policy. ly satisfied that the annexation of

Ave, drawing ortion of the vital resources of. the British empi , pair both its civil and military strength. I

of the milt 4'04 1 " plete success, s to produce au.. to the public ,- of this war."

The Earl of . • •••- that there would be no objection to

produce such papers as ha' ; but he proceeded to make a state- ment calculated to allay the anxieties of Lord F,llenborough.

pprebensions of the consequences he fatal effects of our most corn- to call on her Majesty's Ministers an be produced without detriment ng us acquainted with the causes

The substantive features of his explanations were—that the expedition now on its way to the Burmese shores, or already on them, is not intended to be one against the capital of the country or into the interior; but only to strike a blow against Rangoon and Martaban which by striking terror Into the minds of the Burmese and by showing the efficiency of our forces, would induce them to make terms honourable to the British Government. The second time Commodore Lambert entered the Irawaddy he only made the same demands as at firsilli and now, on his third and last entry, he bore word to the King of Ava, that if he would express his regret for what had occur- red, and would pay a sum to reimburse the expenditure caused in our pre- parations, hostilities would be suspended and peace: restored. Lord Derby concluded by observing, that "if the steps taken shall not be sufficient before the rainy season to induce the Burmese authorities to tender their sub- mission and to enter into terms of peace, then it will be for the Governor. General to consider what steps it will be his duty to take in the arduous struggle which will then be forced upon him." Lord Ellenborough might be quite sure that he himself was not more anxious than the Government to avoid a war' " and what they would consider an inconvenience, a great misfor- tune, and adisaster, the compulsory annexation of the great Burmese empire, or even a large annexation of territory in Ava, to our dominions." The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH uttered a doubting Amen—

"If it be necessary for our dignity that we should make the war, may God prosper it, and may it succeed !"

BETRAYAL OF GOVERNMENT SECRETS IN INDIA.

The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH stated on Tuesday, that he had omitted to mention a point which he intended to mention when discussing the war with Ave on Monday—the want of secrecy in the departments of the In- dian Government The substance of the communications that were about to be made with the King of Ava, and the intention of the Governor-General as to his military operations, were both published in the Calcutta newspapers a fortnight at least before those military operations could be commenced. The points against which the force would move, and the fact that it was intended to withdraw the force before the rainy season, were thus well known to the Burmese Government Disastrous reverses might be the consequence. This is a constant vice in the administration of Indian affairs, which must be absolutely eradicated. Two glaring instances of it came under Lord El. lenborough'a personal notice when he was in India ; and to meet it he was at last obliged to keep his intentions within his own breast till the time of their execution. From that hour only his own private secretary and the two aides-de-camp who copied his letters knew thew contents ; and the con- sequence was, that various military operations were carried on successfully and without loss of life. But all the orders of the Government in Calcutta must be known to all the members of the Council, and to their secretaries. Lord Ellenborough concluded—" I do most earnestly recommend to my noble friend at the head of the Government, by the next mail which sails to India, to call the attention of the Governor-General to this scandalous be- trayal of public confidence; and to tell him that any measure which may be necessary to extirpate thisevil, and to preserve the necessary secrecy as to the measures of the Indian Government, will receive the full and cordial support of the Government at home, even though it should involve the in- stant removal of every officer, whatever his rank, who holds office under the Government of India."

The Earl of DERBY concurred in every word Lord FIlenborough had said; and he would communicate with the Minister at the head of the department to send out proper instructions by the next mail.

FREE NAVIGATION OF THE PARANA AND URUGUAY.

In reply to questions by Mr. Musen Grams, it VMS stated by the CHANCELLOR of the Exorrsourn, that Admiral Sir Charles Hotham and the Chevalier St. George set out from Europe on their joint mission to La Plata on the 16th of this month ; that they will touch at Rio, not on a formal or official visit to the Court of Brazil, but on a visit of friendly communication and explanation ; and that their objects in the River Plate will not be to obtain exclusively for France or England, but for all coun- tries, the same advantages in the free navigation of the Parana, Uruguay, and other tributaries of the River Plate. Mr. Grasorti requiring a more explicit answer about Brazil, with which our Government has had "a most angry correspondence," Mr. DISRAELI said that the object of Sir Charles Hotham would be "to enter into friendly relations with the Court of Brazil."

Foinuort REFUGEES.

The Foreign Refugee Correspondence was brought under the attention of the House of Peers by Lord Beaumorrr, with the avowed object of as- certaining from Lord Malmesbury, whether he has abandoned the prin- ciples of policy laid down by his predecessor, Lord Granville, in the de- spatch to Prince Schwarzenberg which has met with such general public approbation. The Earl of MALMESBIIRY gave the information required, in a speech of considerable length, effectively delivered. Going over several detailed subjects introduced by Lord Beaumont, he at the last concentrated himself on the main point with an earnestness that was impressive. A diffident disclaimer of ability, a statement that he knew he was indebted only to the attachment of an old friend for the office he holds, and a frank testimony of admiration for the success of Lord Gran- ville, his junior in years, and scarcely his superior in experience, were points in a succession of eloquent phrases, which rose to a climax in his de- claration of the policy which guided him in office. "If personal malice or party spirit should endeavour to invent the worst calumny against me that could be framed, it would be to put forward the supposition that, on a ques- tion affecting the safety and security of foreign refugees in this country, I did not hold the opinions I find expressed in the despatch of my noble friend opposite. (Cheers.) I can well conceive the pleasure and happiness of a refugee, hunted from his native land, on approaching the shores of England, and the joy with which he sees them; but they are not greater than the pleasure and happiness every Englishman feels in knowing that his country is the refuge for such men. My Lords, you know what our laws are on this subject ; they have been over and over again ex- plained in both Houses of Parliament ; and so long as I have the happiness to be one of her Majesty's-Government and of managing the Foreign Office, I declare to you, that from no country in Europe, or in any other part of the globe, shall I consent to receive a demand that would change those laws. I would not answer such a demand by any argumenta- tive writing, or by any diplomatic despatch ; because I do not think the pro- vince of diplomacy extends to anything further than negotiation and con- ciliation ; but I would tell those who made such a demand, in a firm but conciliatory manner, that it could not be complied with ; and I would an- swer them as the first Barons answered, Nolumus leges Anglin muted.' Having said this much, my Lords, with reference to my own feelings and sentiments, and being convinced that every member of her Majesty's Go- vernment believes it impossible to change the laws of England, even if a Minister could be found willing to do so, and that so long as the foreign re- fugees respect and obey the law, that law will be protected against all

comers, I will add, in the sense and in the principle of the policy of this country, that the same law which inexorably protects will as inexorably punish them if they bring their conspiracies into a practical shape which clearly breaks it." (Cheers.) SEIZUE.E OF Mn. IBM'S PAi'ERS IN BELGIUM.

Mr. MONCKTON MILS put a question to Mr. Disraeli about a seizure of the property of a British subject, on a Britiff ship, by the Belgian Government. A package. of books worth 1001., and belonging to Mr. Jeffs the publisher, had been seized in the steam-ship Soho, on the allegation that the books were illegal : but a jury had acquitted the author of the books, and said they were not illegal. Would our Government press for restitution and compensation ?

The CHANCELLOR of the Exenzunna corrected Mr. Milnes's statement

The seizure—not on board the Soho, though it might legally, have been, as the Soho was in Belgian waters—was of 500 copies of a pamphlet entitled la Veritd, and 500 copies of the Bulletin _Francais under a false name, and containing attacks on the French President ; which attacks, however, have since been held by a Belgian jury to be not libellous. The legality of the seizure is a question between Mr. Jeffs and the Belgian officials, to be tried in the Belgian tribunals. If Mr. Jeffs cannot obtain the same redress from those tribunals as could be claimed by a Belgian subject, it will be the duty of the British Government to interfere and see that justice is done to him ; but till he has gone to the ordinary Belgian tribunals, it will not be proper for the British Government to interfere.

Loss en; THE BIRKENHEAD.

The news of the loss of the Birkenhead steam frigate formed the sub- ject of questions to the Admiralty authorities in both Houses of Parlia- ment on Tuesday; by Lord MO/MEWL/3 iii the House of Peers, and by Mr. ADDERLET in the House of Commons. The Duke of Noternmannu- Limn and Mr. STAFFORD gave answers in each House, which agreed in seeming to place the conduct of the commanding naval officer at Ply- mouth, Admiral Ommanney, in a censurable light. Mr. STAFFORD was the most detailed in his communication.

At half-past ten o'clock that morning, the Admiralty received, not by an official communication, but by the telegraph common to others, information of the distressing event referred to. They immediately telegraphed to Ad- miral Sir John Ommanney, at Plymouth, requiring him to communicate the circumstances. No answer was received to that message ; and at half-past two o'clock a letter was despatched to Sir John Ommanney, asking an ex- planation of the reason of the delay. Until such answer was received, it would be premature on his part to pronounce any opinion upon the cause of that delay: He waited at the Admiralty until the last moment—half-past four o'clock—at which time no information had been received.

EXIMUZENTATIVE CONSTITUTION FOR NEW ZEALAND.

Sir Joust PAKINGTON has promised that he will on an early day after Easter ask leave for a bill to confer a representative constitution on the colony of New Zealand.

EASTER ADJOURNMENT.

Both Houses of Parliament adjourned on Tuesday, over the Easter holydays, till Monday the 19th instant.