POSTSCRIPT.
SATURDAY.
The House of Commons had a long but not an interesting sitting last night. The renewed debate on the Legacy-duty, in Committee of Ways and Means was more edifying in its impotent conclusion than in its conduct by the Opposition. Sir Jorix hum:Grote reopened it, with "arguments" and figures; a show of debating was made by Mr. LIDDELL, MT. CAYLEY, and Mr. NEWDEGATE ; and Mr. BRIGHT LOA ex- ceptions, though still warmly approving of the tax. It was supported by Viscount GODERICH, Mr. Wu.r.sam WiLmems, and Mr. Prro. The House was very empty throughout : it was felt that the leaders of the Op- position were deserted; and ultimately Mr. DISRAELI himself suggested that the resolution should pass pro forma ; further discussion to be taken on the bill itself. The resolution was agreed to.
Again, in Committee on the Customs and Assessed Duties Acts, on the motion of Mr. GLADSTONE, the Assessed Tax resolutions were agreed to.
When the motion for adjourning the House was made, Mr. DISRAELI requested information on the course of public business : he particularly pressed the postponement of the second reading of the Income-tax Bill until Monday week. After a good deal of conversation, Mr. GLADSTONE Lied the second reading of the Customs-duties Bill and the report of the Legacy-duty resolution for next Thursday, and the second reading of the Income-tax Bill for Friday. It was also agreed that Thursday should be taken for the Committee on Mr. Milner Gibson's County-rates Bill.
After some debate, and one unsuccessful attempt to adjourn the House, new writ was ordered to be issued for the borough of Rye.
In the House of Lords, the Earl of SHAFTESBURY obtained a second reading of the Common Lodging-house Bill. He stated that the object of the bill is to improve the efficiency of the act now in force.
The Earl of ALBEMARLE presented a petition from Manchester, on the government of India, similar to others before presented. He followed it up with a description of the evils of the present form of government, especially the neglect of roads and public works ; and he advocated al- teration with the view of rendering the Government responsible, economi- cal, expeditious, and effectual. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH and Lord WHARNCLIFFE further commented on Indian grievances ; the latter ap- parently with the view of leaving the matter to Ministers.
Both Houses adjourned last night, for the Whitsuntide recess : the Commons until Thursday next ; the Lords until Monday week.
The principal witnesses examined yesterday before the Dockyard Com- mittee were the Earl of Derby and Mr. Tufnell the Member for Devon- port. Lord Derby's examination was very brief. He stated that he had given the absolute control in the selection of Naval members of the Board of-Admiralty, and also over all appointments and promotions, to the late First Lord. He, like Mr. Disraeli, asserted that inconvenience arose from the Parliamentary members of the Board not being conversant with Parliamentary practice—there not being so thorough an appreciation of the relative positions of the Secretary and the Board, and the demands made on both, as there would have been "had the Naval Lords been conversant with the habits and requirements of the House of Commons." Be had made no arrangement whatever respecting the transfer of the civil patronage of the Admiralty to the Secretary ; nor had he heard of it until a long time after. He considered the Duke of Northumberland entirely responsible for the administration of the Admiralty. The fol- lowing question was then put and answered.
Lord Seymour—" It has been alleged before this Committee that Mr. Staf- ford has stated that he was under pressure from your Lordship and Mr. Dis- raeli as to the distribution of the patronage : I wish to ask your Lordship if that is so ? "
The Earl of Derby—" I should be very much surprised to hear that Mr. Stafford has made any such statement; because I have a high opinion of Mr. Stafford's honour, and he must have known that such a statement was entirely inconsistent with the fact, and that there was not the slightest foundation for it."
Mr. Tufnell's evidence went to show that Dockyard men were inde- pendent in a great degree : when he was in office 321 voted for himself at Devonport,sand 324 against him. Twu Liberals, Mr. Maijoribanks and Mr. Forster, .son of the unseated Member, were elected yesterday for Berwick-upon-Tweed, by largo majorities.
The nomination for Maidstone took place yesterday. Mr. Leo, the Liberal candidate, had the show of hands : he is opposed by Mr. Martin, Conservative. The polling takes place today.
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