&Intro nub Turthrugo iu Varitaurtut.

• PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OF THE WEEK.

Korea or LORDS. Tuesday, April 1. The Treaty of Peace ; Lord Clarendon's Absence.

Thursday, April 3. Torture in India; Lord Albemarle's Motion.

Friday, April 4. Agricultural Statistics ; Lord Stanley of Alderley's Bill com- mitted.

KOIISE OF Commoxs. Monday, March 31. The Treaty of Peace ; Lord Palmer- ston's Statement—Supply ; Civil Service Estimates—Vaccination Bill read a second time—Reformatory and Industrial Schools ; Sir S. Northcote's Bill read a first time. Tuesday, April 1. County Court Judges ; Mr. Roebuck's Motion—London Cor- poration; Sir George Grey's Bill read a first time—Scotch and Irish Paupers' Re- moval ; Mr. Bouvene's Bill read a first time.

Wednesday, April 2. Medical Profession ; Mr. Headlam's Bill ; Committee postponed—Factories ; Colonel Patten's Bill, debate on second reading. Thursday, April 3. Russian Blockade; Lord Palmetston's Statement—Trans- portation; Mr. Scott's Motion—Specialty and Simple Contract Debts ; Mr. Matins's Bill read a first time—Drafts on Bankers; Mr. Pellatt's Bill read a second time— Factories ; Colonel Patten's Bill read a second time—Joint-Stock Banks ; Sir John Shelley's Bill read a first time—Poor-law Amendment ; Mr. Bouverie's Bill read a first time—Fire-Insurance ; the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Bill read a first time. _Friday, April 4. Central America ; Lord Goderich's Question—Siege of Acre ; Sir James Graham and Sir Charles Napier—Supply; Civil Service Estimates—Joint- Stock Companies ; Mr. Lowe's Bill committed pro forma.

TIME-TABLE.

The Commons.

Hour of Hour of Meeting. Adjournment.

Monday 411 .(rn) DI 45m Tuesday 45 .... 9h 3Om

Wednesday Noon Elh Om

Thursday 411 . 1211 Om Friday . 411. .(m) 12h 46m Sittings this 'Week,

ANNOUNCEMENT OF PEACE.

The House of Commons reassembled on Monday in the full ex- pectation that the Premier would come down and officially announce the signing of the treaty of Paris before the set business of the evening be-

_ gan. At half-past four the Clerk called the order of the day for" Sup- ply "; the motion of Mr. Wresme that "the Speaker do leave the chair" was instantly carried, followed by some laughter ; and the House went into Committee of Supply. Shortly afterwards, Lord Palmerston entered the House, and took his seat on the Treasury bench. The business of voting money proceeded for some time, the Premier making no attempt to interrupt its course. At length Mr. FRENCH moved that the Chairman should report progress, for the purpose of eliciting a declaration from the Premier. That war should be concluded, and that her Majesty's Minis- ter should not inform the House, was without precedent. If Lord Pal- merston did not think it worth his while to make the announcement of the treaty of peace after the House had gone into Committee of Supply, it would only have been decent and respectful to the House if his col- leagues had waited a few minutes until he arrived.

Thus pointedly called up, Lord Pdixteesreee rose, and spoke to the following effect--

" Sir, -I was in the House not three minutes after the half-hour, which is usually the time for notices of motion being given and questions being put. There were notices of motion previous to going into Committee of Supply, and there were also notices of questions; and I was as much surpri-d as other Members could be to find the House in Committee of Supply at so un- usually early an hour. If I had come down to, the House three minutes sooner, I should have made a statement which I am quite prepared now to make. It is a very short one, and will convey no information to the honourable Member beyond that which he already possesses. (A laugh.) If it be any satisfaction, however, to my honourable friend to be informed officially of that which he already knows individually, I shall have very great easure in enlightening his mind. "The House is perfectly aware from the Gazette, that yesterday, at two o'clock, a treaty of peace Was signed at Paris. The House will have seen by the announcement in the Gazette that it was detennined by the Congress that the pardcular conditions of the treaty should not be made public until the ratifications had been exchanged. And that, indeed, is the usual course, for it is a mark of obvious deference to the Powers who are parties to the treaty. At the same time, without going into any details of the conditions, the main substance of which is already known to all the world, because it has been embodied in protocols and published in every country in Europe, I may say at least that my conviction is that that treaty of peace will be -deemed sa- tisfactory by this country and by Europe. (Cheers.) Sir, it will be found that the objects for which the war was undertaken have been fully accom- plished. It will be found, that by the stipulations of that treaty the in- tegrity and independence of the Turkish empire will be secured, as far as human arrangements can effect that purpose. (Cheers.) It will be found that that treaty is honourable to all the Powers who are contracting parties to it ; and I trust that, while on the one hand it has put an end tea war

The Lords.

Hour of Hour of Meeting. Adjournment. Monday No sitting. Tuesday 5h 6h 26in Wednesday No sitting. Thursday' 6h , . 311 60m Friday 611 811 30m

Sittings this Week, 3; Time, 411 45m this Session, 31; — 63h 3m 5; Time, 3811 Om this Session, 36; — 24111 30m

which every friend to humanity must naturally have wished to see con- cluded, on the other hand it will lay the foundation of a peace which I trust., so far at least as regards the circumstanced out of which the war be- gan, will be lasting and enduring.

" Sir, during the negotiations which have led to this peace I am happy to say that the same cordiality which has prevailed among the !Allies in carry- ing on the war has also mainly contributed to the conclusion of peace, and that we shall leave off at the conclusion of this war in a stricter and closer alliance with them—and in a more extended alliance—than existed during the continuance of the war • and that, therefore, the future permanence not only of a good understanding but of an intimate connexion between the great Powers of Europe will have been cemented and strengthened by the com- munications that have taken place during the negotiations. Sir, I have nothing more to say, except that it must be gratifying to the country to know that nothing could exceed the ability with which the British negotia- tors have performed their arduous and difficult task during theAcgotiations ; and that Lord Clarendon and Lord Cowley have not only maintained the honour, dignity, and interests of the country they represented, but by their conciliatory conduct have secured for themselves and their country e re- spect, esteem, and good-will of those with whom they had to do. Cheers.)

t

The ratifications are to be exchanged as soon as they can be received at Con- stantinople and St. Petersburg. The limitation of time has been four weeks, but I should hope that at least within three weeks the ratifications will be exchanged at Paris." (Cheers.)

The motion to report progress was then withdrawn, and the Committee went on with its business.

In the House of Lords, which reassembled on 'c-salty, the proceed- ings respecting the signing the treaty of peace were of the briefest cha- racter. The Earl of MALMESBURY, one minute before the time fixed far ordinary business, said he had been waiting to see whether her Majesty's Ministers had any announcement to make relative to the_peace ; and as that was not the case, he asked Lord Lansdowne when Lord Clarendon would return, as it would be inconvenient to bring forward the discus- sion relative to Kars in the absence of the Foreign Secretary ?

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said, that as all he could state on the sub-- ject of the peace was universally known, he hardly thought it necessary to make any statement ; but he was ready to answer any questions to the best of his power. He could not any when Lord Clarendon would return to England.

No questions were asked, and the matter dropped.

THE RUSSIAN' BLOCKADE. .

On Thursday, in reply to Mr. MITCHELL, Lord PALMERSTON stated, that on Wednesday "the Congress extended the armistice to sea as well as land; and as a matter of consequence, the blockades cease." But with regard to the question "whether, if the blockade were to cease at once, an arrangement had been made to enable British vessels to enter Russian ports for commercial purposes without risk of seizure ? " that involved other Considerations, and Lord Palmerston was not prepared with a reply.

. - THE LONDON CORPORATION BILL.

Sir GEORGE GREY obtained leave, on Tuesday, to bring in a bill for the better regulation of the Corporation of the City of London. Before he explained its provisions, he stated that the Government approached the subject with no unfriendly,feelings towards that great body, which is entitled to be treated with all possible respect and consideration. In- deed, the object of the measure "is not to diminish the importancenor to impair the dignity of the Corporation, but by amending defects in its constitution and in the administration of its affairs, and by bringing it more into harmony with the spirit of recent municipal legislation, to in- crease its usefulness, to enhance its influence, and to- render it better adapted to fulfil all the legitimate purposes of its existence." In dealing with the subject, he had the advantage of two elaborate and careful re- ports, one made in 1837, the other in 1853. The bill he was about to bring in was based mainly on the recommendations of the latter ; and Sir George repeatedly referred to the report in describing the provisions in detail.

The bill leaves the boundaries of the City exactly as they are at present Its general scope is, first, "to reform the constitution of the Corporation, and of some of the courts and jurisdictions within the City ; secondly, to abolish customs now in force within the City which are injurious to trade and industry—customs which have been abolished in other corporate cities and towns by the Municipal Corporations Act ; thirdly, to divest the cor- porate body of anomalous powers, of which, m the opinion of the Com- missioners, some should cease altogether, while others should be transferred to bodies better qualified to exercise them." The main governing body will still consist of the COMMIE Council, the Lord Mayor, and the Aldermen ; but the several parts will be materially altered. The Wards will be reduced from twenty-six, their present number, to sixteen, and rendered more nearly equal in area and population. Each Ward will elect one Alderman and five Common Councilmen, making 96, instead of 232, the existing number of the Court of Common Council. The Aldermen will no longer be elected for life, but for six years ; and one-half will triennially retire. The Common Councilmen will be elected annually : their qualification will be the same as in other corporations—possession of real or personal estate worth 1000/., or ratinglo the amount of 30/. • the existing qualification of freedom being dispensed with. The voter will no longer be compelled to reside in or be free of the City. The Lord Mayor, the Sheriffs, the Recorder, and other officers, now elected by the Court of Common Hall or Court of Aldermen, shall henceforth be elected by the Common Council. Any person shall be eligible for the office of Lord Mayor who is-qualified to be a Common Coun- cilman; and the same qualification to be required for Sheriffs and Auditors. The Court of Aldermen, as distinct from a:Magisterial Court, will be abo- lished, and its powers transferred to the Common Council. The Court of Hustings will be abolished; and the Lord Mayor's Court and Sheriff's Court will be consolidated into one. The Recorder will be the sole Judge in the Lord Mayor's Court. The Lord Mayor and Aldermen will cease to form an essential part of the Central Criminal Court. The bill does not touch the Police, but it provides that the Aldermen shall no longer act as Police ilagietratee; that the -City shall be thrown into the Metropolitan Police district for the purposes of the Police-Courts Act, though not for purposes of police ; and that either a new Police district 6A.1 be created consisting of the City, or that the City shall be thrown into the general Metropolitan district, so that criminal police-jurisdiction inay be exercised by Stipendiary Magistrates. In fact, the Aldermen will be placed on precisely 1110 same footing as the Middlesex Magistrates. The bill, moreover, abolishes all exclusive right of trading ; metage of grain,. fruit, wares, and- merchandise ; and the monopoly- of the porterage of gram and other measurable articles. The connexion 'between the City of London - and Southwark is eeveredi As regards the coal-dutieg, Government proposes that the penny and eightpenny duty shall not be re- newed when they expire in 1862; and that the fourpenny duty shall be Iggt up only as long as may be necessary to liquidate the charge of ,OW/. now imposed upon it. It was proposed to transfer the coal-duties to the Metropolitan Board of Works : but Parliament has already given that Board great power to raise money ' - besides, such a transfer would leave the grievance of the imposition of the tax untouched. As regards the Conser- vancy of the Thames tames it is proposed to take it away from the Corporation, and vest it in a Board consisting of the First Lord of the Admiralty, the President of the Board of Trade, one of the Commissioners of Woods, and the Deputy Mader of the Trinity House ; and to transfer to that Board those tolls and dues which are now collected by the City, not as a source of re- venue, but to meet the expenses of the Conservancy to the body in whom the conservancy of the river will in future be vested. The bill was brought in, and read a first time.

COUNTY COURT IU])GB3.

Mr. ROEBUCK brought under the consideration of the House, on Tues- day, the question of remunerating the Judges of the County Courts. His motion was, that an address should be presented to the Queen, "praying her Majesty to give directions to the Lords of the Treasury, that hereafter, in order to maintain the dignity and independence of County Court Judges, each of those Judges be paid a salary permanently 'fixed at 1500/. per annum." He introduced the subject with a succinct history of the County Courts. The person who first propounded to Parliament the establishment of these tribunals was Lord Brougham, to whom the country is so greatly indebted for Ins valuable labours in the cause of juridical reform. Lord Brougham, when Chancellor, proposed a bill for the purpose of establishing County Courts ; but the opposition he then encountered proved too great, and it was reserved for the present Chairman of Ways and Means Committees [Mr. Fitzroy] to carry that desirable object into effect, which was ultimately achieved by the passing of the 9th and 10th of Victoria' chapter 95. That act gave these courts a jurisdiction up to 20/., and directed the payment of fees to the Judges, with power for the Crown to grant salaries not exceeding 1200/. in lieu of fees. By the 10th and llth of Victoria, chap- ter 102, jurisdiction in insolvency and protection cases was trans- ferred from the Country Commissioners to the Judges of County Courts in the Country Circuits ; and the Judges of those tribunals were declared in- capable of sitting in Parliament. The 13th and 14th of Victoria, chapter 61, extended their jurisdiction to 501., and even, by the consent of the parties, to any amount, including the trial of title to real estates ; and it also trans- ferred to the Lords of the Treasury the power originally given to the Crown to direct payment of the salaries of these Judges. The 11th and 15th of Victoria, chapter 52, authorized the Judges of Cenntry Circuits to grant 'warrants for the arrest of absconding debtors, on affidavit, for debts of any amount above 20/. The 14th and 15th of Victoria, chapter 100, empowered County Court Judges to direct the prosecution of witnesses for perjury, and to commit for trial in default of bad. The 15th and 16th of Victim-la, chap- ter 51, while debarring these Judges from practising in Their profession, provided that they should receive salaries not exceeding 1500/. nor less than 1200/. Ile cited these facts to show how year by year the business went on accumulating in the County Courts, until, in fact, a great part of the civil litigation of the country devolved upon them. The 16th and 17th of Vic- toria, chapter 51, (the Succession-Duty Act,) gave a power of appeal from assessments to those courts where the sum at issue was not above 501. 1.3y the Customs Consolidation Act a similar power of appeal was given in cases of conviction up to the amount of 100/. penalty ; while by the Charity Trusts Act jurisdiction in charity trust eases, where the income did not ex- ceed 30/. per annum, was likewise vested in Judges of Country Circuits. The Cemmon Law Procedure Act, 17th and 18th of Victoria, chapter 125, also authorized the Judges of Westminster Hall to refer causes involving questions of account to the County Court Judges. By the Friendly Socie- ties Act, Judges of County Courts were empowered to wind up the affairs of friendly societies. The House would see from this statement that there is hardly any subject involving civil procedure which might not be brought before the County Courts.

He asked the House to agree to a resolution making the salaries of County Court Judges fixed and equal,' as they ought to be men of equal ability', an B d independent of the Crown. lint one of the acts of Parliament he had re-

ferred to gave the Treasury the power of apportioning the amount to be paid the Country Court Judges ; so that they, "the most important Judges in the country," were required to bow down to the Treasurysbenches for an increase of their salaries from the minimum of 12001. to the maximum of 1500/. a year. It happened to him once, in the days when Lord Melbourne was Prime Minister, to have a grievance. Ile went to Lord Melbourne, and he should not easily forget the observation of that noble Lord—" It's all very fine," said Lord Melbourne, "to call me Prime Minister, but why don't you go to Johnny ? " (Loud laughter). Mr. Roebuck had no desire to "go to Johnny " : he made his application to Lord Melbourne ; and the accuracy of that noble Lord's opinion was proved by the fact that his grievance remained unredressed. Why should the Judges of any court bow down to the Secre- tary of the Treasury ? The County Court Judges try eases by thousands ; they are expected to take a position in society ; they administer justice to the poor, and should be above suspicion. He therefore asked that their sa- laries should be fixed and equal, and that they should not be less than 1500/. a year. The rest of Mr. Roebuck's speech was taken up chiefly with a personal charge against Mr. Wilson, Secretary of the Treasury. Mr. Roebuck has a brother-in-law, Mr. Falconer, who is a County Court Judge. In ap- portioning the number of Judges who should be paid at the maximum rate, as ordered by Parliament, the maximum was not awarded to Mr. Falconer. Why ?

There must be some reason. The world at large did not know the reason. He could guess it, and the Secretary to the Treasury knew that he could. It was not that Mr. Wilson was told by his superiors to do so and so ; but there were certain minds so constituted that they easily found out what their superiors desired, and, no matter what the dirty work might be, they were ready to do it. A worthy Judge had been passed over for political reasons. The miserable self-eomplacency of Mr. Wilson had been hurtby Mr. Roebuck's conduct, and therefore Justice was not done to a County Court Judge because he was Mr. Roebuck's brother-in-law. high qualifications the same talent, industry, integrity, and high sense of honour, are required in all judges alike. While the principle of gra- duation exists, there must always exist a suspicion of favouritism and partiality ; and therefore it would be better that the House should fix an uniform rate of payment.

Before Mr. Wilson replied to Mr. Roebuck on the personal question, Sir GEORGE GREY made a statement which rendered the motion unne- cessary. On the establishment of the County Courts, the Judges were paid by fees' because, although it was originally intended that the pay- ment should be by salaries, they had had no experience as to the fees that might be expected. The result was, that the payments of the Judges were very unequal ; and then the payment by fees was changed into payment by salary. At that time Sir George was of opinion and he had never seen reason to alter it, that the payment should be uniform; but The House thought otherwise' and imposed the duty of making dis- tinctions in the salaries upon the Treasury. That course inevitably led to dissatisfaction. The Government have fully considered the question, and they have arrived at the conclusion that the County Court Judges should receive a fixed salary. They have looked at the question as if they were about to begin de novo ; and the Lord Chancellor is of opinion that 12001., with travelling-expenses, will be adequate remuneration. Those who now receive 1500/. a year will continue to receive during their tenure of office ; but he trusted the House would not hastily pledge itself to pay all County Court Judges 1500/. a year. The subject can be fully considered when the bills in the tipper House embodying the recommendations of the County Court Commissioners come before them. Mr. WILSON made a personal explanation ; showing the principle on which the maximum salary had been awarded to certain Judges by Mr. Gladstone and himself in 1853. Having failed in obtaining the assist- ance either of the County Courts Commissioners or the Lord Chancellor, they proceeded to decide in the best way they could. They dealt with the sixty circuits by numbers, ignorant of the names of the Judges ; Mr. Wilson not having the slightest notion that Mr. Roebuck had a brother- in-law a Judge in a County Court. They took together the various elements on which the question of salaries depended,—the number of plaints, the number of sittings, the number of trials, the amount of fees,— and resolved that the fifteen Judges who had the largest amount of business should have the maxinnuu salary. When the different elements he had described were thrown together, the largest number was 89,000 and the lowest 16,000; which showed the immense difference in the amount of duty performed by these Judges. The lowest in point of number among the fifteen selected came to close upon 50,000, and at that point there was a fall of 5000. Mr. Falconer was number 16, and therefore did not get the higher salary. Subsequently, for various rea- sons, the higher salary was awarded to three other Judges ; but it was not until the end of 1855 that Mr. Falconer's duties came up to the point fixed by the Treasury minute. Mr. Roebuck gave notice of a motion relating to the County Courts, and as it had gone forth that Roebuck charged the Treasury with excluding Mr. Falconer on personal considerations, the increase of salary could not be awarded to him Rend- ing yr. Roebuck's motion, without laying the Government Open to a charge of wishing to conciliate that honourable and learned Member. As regards the case of Mr. Morris, they had learned through Mr. Falconer—who would have done well to communicate the information sooner—that money had passed between Mr. Morris and the persons appointed in his place; and the Treasury had ordered an inquiry.

In the subsequent portion of the debate, there was a general agree- ment in favour of fixing and equalizing the salaries of the County Court Judges; but a difference as to the amount. Sir dome' PextrieroN was prepared to fix the salary at 1500/., and Mr. MALINS took the same view ; but Mr. GLAnsToarn and Mr. Dismiami contended that it should remain an open question,—showing a decided leaning to the lower salary of 1200/. a year. It would be most unwise in the House at the present moment to pledge itself to increase the salaries of public servants. Mn- — GransTostE severely lectured Mr. Roebuck for his attack upon Mr. Wil- son; and Mr. DISR.AELI said he only expressed the general feeling of the House in stating that Mr. Wilson had given a satisfactory answer to the charges preferred against him. Obeying the indication of the wish of the House, Mr. ROEBUCK with- drew his motion.

SECONDARY PUNISIDIENTS.

Mr. Scorr moved for the appointment of a Select Committee "to con- sider how far, and in what direction, recent legislation and the substitu- tion of other punishments for transportation had influenced the existing amount of crime." Sir George Grey, he observed, had given notice of an amendment to limit the inquiry into the operation of the Transporta- tion Act of 1853, alleging that Mr. Scott's inquiry was too wide ; but if it were too wide, Sir George's proposal would make it too narrow. To show the necessity for a large inquiry, Mr. Scott entered into a great variety of matters connected with criminal legislation. The tendency to diminish punishment, instead of diminishing crime has increased it, far beyond the increase that might be looked for from the growth of population. Juvenile offenders, for instance, imprisoned for short periods, and not subjected to any reformatory process in prison, are ens coimiged in a course of crime. Only that day he had seen a boy in- - Tothilfields Prison, who, although but fourteen years of age, was. then in prison for the twenty-sixth time. Since 1829, the number of criminals condemned to death had decreased from 1 in 94, to 1 in 469 of the criminal population, while the number sentenced to six months' imprisonment has increased from 50 to 71 per cent. The sum spent in criminal expenses eight years ago was 1,100,000!.; now it is 2,250,0001. He adduced a number of statements to show that the ticket-of-leave sys- tem is not working with success. The latest returns of Colonel Jobb show that of 4612 released convicts only 268, or about 54 per cent, have forfeited their licences ; but inquiries lie had made of head constables of the English counties showed that there were 314 per cent. Ticket-of-leave men can with difficulty be kept out of the way of old associates ; yet the police are kept in the dark as to their proceedings, and that operates unfairly to so- ciety, the police, and the released convicts themselves. The ticket-of- leave men are in fact, professors of thieving, who travel through the country and take pupils. They should be kept under stricter surveil- lance, and their licences should be for short periods. There should be an inquiry into the shortness of terms of imprisonment for children, into the labour performed by prisoners, and into the propriety of reestablishing transportation as regards young offenders.

Mr. LLOYD DAVIES seconded the motion.

Sir Gsoans Garr said, that the speeches of the mover and seconder had increased his apprehensions as to the vague and indefinite character of the inquiry proposed by Mr. Scott. If his amendment would exclude from consideration subjects which really have reference to secondary punishments and the position of convicts, he should be very ready to en- large its terms. Sir George showed that offences have decreased and not increased: Mr. Scott did not allow for the increase of population. As regards the ticket-of-leave system, he stated some general • results. Of 5132 ticket-of-leave holders, only 447, so far as the Government are in- formed, have been again committed for trial. The number of convicts td wheal tickets-of-leave have been refused, or from whom they have been withdrawn, is 554. No doubt, the statements laid before Par- liament are necessarily defective ; but he had taken steps by which he hoped to get a report of every case in which a convict is again put upon his trial. The police are not set on the track of these men ; where they see a man known to be the holder of a ticket aasociating with infamous persons, the police warn him ; but if he live honestly they do not interfere. Sir George entered at some length into the transportation question ; and although he did not think it likely that we should revert to transportation as it existed before 1853, he freely admitted that it might be made the subject of inquiry. He moved, That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the operation of the act 16th and 17th of Victoria, chapter 99, entitled an Act to substitute, in certain cases, other Punishment in lieu of Trans- portation."

SIT JOHN PAKINGTON discussed some of the phases of the trans- portation question, which, he said, ought not to be excluded from the inquiry. But were they, under Sir George Grey's amendment, to have fiffllihertytoenterintothetermsoftheActof-1853? As regards the ticket-of-leave system, he thought they would not be justified in saying that it has failed. " The wisest and most prudent course would be, not to abandon the ticket-of-leave system, but to extend the period of punish- ment for which criminals are now sentenced ; continuing to the Home Office the power which it at present possesses of holding out to convicts every possible encouragement to return to honest and industrious courses." LABOUCICERE, in a brief speech, consented, on the part of the Go- vernment, to insert words that would remove any ambiguity in the ex- pressed intention of the Government to include the whole subject of secondary punishment in the inquiry. Several other Members :took part in the debate. Mr. ADDERLEY, While admitting the necessity of an inquiry, pointed out that any great decrease of crime could not be expected from the operation of the penal law. That is a result that can only follow from preventive measures. MT. NEWDEGATE put in a word for transportation. Sir STAFFORD Noirrnoors thought that the question of refuges and reformatories ought to come within the scopeof the inquiry. Mr. S. FtrzosauLn thought that there are localities where transportation might be revived with benefit both to the Colonies and the Mother-country. -- Mr. Scorr Consented to withdraw his resolution ; and Sir George Grey's amendment passed as a substantive motion.

POOR Law AmEsnanncrs. „

On Thursday, Mr. BOUVERIE obtained leave to bring in a bill "to amend the laws for the relief of the Poor" ; and later in the evening it was read a first time. The bill provides, that places not included in parishes where no rate is raised, shall either be added to adjoining parishes, or created parishes for poor-rate purposes ; that the remaining "Gilbert Unions" shall be abolished ; that the Auditors, who are paid out of the Consolidated Fund, shall henceforth be appointed by the Government ; and that the appointment of Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, now vested in the Poor-law Board, shall be transferred rio the Boards of Guardians.

Mr. Bouvraira has brought in a bill "to amend the laws for the re- pioval of poor persons chargeable in England, who have been born in Scotland or Ireland." The bill proposes, that i4 after investigation, the Magistrates should adjudicate that a pauper was a native of a parish or union in Scotland or Ireland, or had resided there for five years before coining to England, notice of his chargeability should be sent to such union or parish; that such union or parish should then be entitled to give notice of appeal, within thirty days, and also to examine the depo- sitions upon which the order of removal was founded ; and that if an ap- peal took place the pauper should not be removed until it was decided. The pauper would not be turned out at the first port at which the vessel conveying him happened to arrive, but would be sent to the workhouse of the union upon which he was chargeable.—Read a first time.

FACTORY MACHINERY,

• Colonel Willmar PATTEN moved, on Wednesday, the second reading of the Factories Bill, and explained its objects. The law requires the own- ers of factories to place secure fences round all shafts and gearing; but one clause of the same act enables factory-occupiers to submit any cases respecting the fencing of machinery, as distinguished from shafting and gearing, tcf arbitration. There was therefore, a power of arbitration as regards machinery, and an arbitrary enactment as regards gearing and shafting. He proposed by this bill to place the latter on the same foot- ing as machinery. What led him to bring in the bill was the conflicting decisions of the Courts on the subject. A manufacturer placed his shafts 'along the ceiling of his rooms quite out of the reach of the workpeople : an accident occurred, and an action was brought against him : his defence was, that he had complied with the provisions of the act; but Mr. Jus- tice Crowder decided that the act must be strictly interpreted, and a ver- dict Was given against the manufacturer. He 'obtained a new trial, and Mr. Justice Cresswell ruled that the requirements of the act had been complied with ; and the-Jury gave a verdict for the defendant, subject to the opinion of the Court 'above on the point -of-law. The case was car- ried to the Court of Queen's Bench, and Lord Campbell decided that Mr. Justice Cresswell'a decision was wrong, and must be reversed. That planed the manufacturers in an awkward predicament ; they regarded it as impossible for any manufacturer on a large scale, some having miles of shafting, to comply with the law. The decisions of the Factory In- spectors were contradictory on the subject ; and from that, and the com- tulsory enactment respecting gearing and shafting, they sought to be re- lieved. Mr. COBBEIT moved that the bill be read a second time that day six months. If the House agreed to the measure, he said they would re- move a protection from the lives and limbs of the workpeople ; and he adduced instances to show that shafting had caused many horrible acci- dents. As to arbitration, the manufacturers could easily evade the award by the slightest alteration of the machinery. Lord Joan,: MAN- NERS seconded the amendment.

After Mr. MILNER GIBSON had said a few words in support of the bill, Sir GEORGE GREY explained that the Government would not object to the second reading of the bill if Colonel Patten would consent to certain modifications ; but he did not state what they were, further than to re- mark that the bill went beyond the proved necessity, and that the awards of arbitrators should be protected from evasion by severe penalties. On the part of Colonel Patten, Lord STANLEY accepted Sir George's offer. The debate was continued by several Members on either side ; and as the minute-hand of the clock approached the hour of six there arose cries of " Divide !" Colonel PATTEN had replied and accepted the offer of Sir George Grey, when Colonel DUE, saluted by cries of "Oh ! oh !" moved the adjournment of the debate. Mr. MONTAGUE CHAMBERS se- conded that motion, and the House divided. It was then seen that only 9 voted for the adjournment and 198 against it. But it was now only within ten minutes of six, and the main question could not be put, be- cause, by the standing orders, the debate stood adjourned.

Late on Thursday, Mr. COBBHIT withdrew his amendment, on the understanding that the bill should be read a second time and passed through Committee pro forma, in order that Sir George Grey's amend- ments may be printed. The bill was accordingly read a second time. ' MEDICAL PROFESSION BILL.

Mr. HEADLAM moved, on Wednesday, that the HOMO should go into Committee on the Medical Profession Bill. Lord ROBERT GROSVENOR, disclaiming any intention of offering a vexatious opposition, pointed out that there were on the paper notices of nearly a hundred amendments; and suggested that the consideration of the bill should be postponed. MT. HEADLAM declined to accede. Mr. W.ALTEIL, Mr. THOMAr3 BUN- COMBE, Mr. WALPOLE, and others, said that some of the amendments had been placed on the paper at the eleventh hour—especially one by the Government altering the constitution of the Medical Council ; and some time ought to be given for their consideration.Mr. Headlam him- self had given notice of amendments that filled three 'pages of the paper. Mr. WALPOLE moved that the Committee on the bill be deferred to Wed- nesday next. Sir GEonci GREY, at first, urged the House to go into Committee, where the amendments could be discussed; but he yielded in deference to the feeling of the House. Several Members suggested a Select Committee. On a division, Mr. Walpole's amendment was car- ried by 116 to 81.

An irregular discussion arose led by Mr. IlnanLam, who complained that the Government had "thrown him over " : he would leave the bill in their hands.. Sir GEORGE GREY said he had never agreed to take charge of the bill: the Government, knowing the discordant views of the medical profession on the subject, were not prepared to bring in a bill; they were prepared to refer the question to a Select Committee. Lord ELCHO said, he should on Thursday move for leave to bring in a bill to amend the laws relating to the medical profession. The best mode of dealing with the subject would be to appoint a Royal Commis- sion of inquiry ; but in the mean time his bill and that of Mr. Headlam might be referred to a Select Committee.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Mr. MaLrsa has obtained leave to bring in a bill "to abolish all distinctions between specialty and simple contract debts."

A specialty debt is created when a party signs an instrument to which .a seal is affixed ; a simple contract debt is not under seal, but is incurred in the case of the purchase of goods or the signing of a promissory note. Formerly the creditor of a specialty debt had this advantage over the cre- ditor of a simple contract debt—namely, that the former could have recourse to the land of the debtor for the payment of the money due to him. Down to the time of William and Marv, a specialty. creditor had a right to resort to the land of the debtor, and he had also a priority of claim as regarded the personal estate of the debtor. But there was this limitation of the right of the specialty creditor, that he could only resort to the land of his debtor. while it was in his own hands or in the hands of his heir-at-law; he could not follow the land if it were in the hands of a devisee. The practice, therefore, was for the debtor to devise his land, and thus deprive his cre- ditor of any remedy against it. That mischief was cured by the Act of the 3d and 4th of William and Mary, called the Statute of Frauds ; which en- acted that if any land was devised for the purpose of defrauding a specialty creditor, the devise should be void as against that creditor, and that he should be able to follow the land in the hands of the deviseet just as he could if it were in the hands of the heir. But the Courts of }..quity, when dealing with the property of deceased persons, recognize no distinction be- tween specialty and simple contract debts.

In 1807, Sir Samuel Romilly introduced a bill to make freehold estates liable to the payment of debts ; but although that bill was then and re- peatedly carried in the House of Commons, it was rejected in the Howse of Lords ; and it was not until 1833 that a bill brought in by the present Sir John llomffiy became law, making real estates assets for the pay- ment of simple contract debts, but still preserving the distinction by which specialty creditors are paid in full before creditors on simple con- tracts. That distinction he proposed to abolish. No opposition was offered, and the bill was read a first time.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL obtained leave to bring in a bill "to amend the law relating to the criminal appropriation of property held by per- sons as trustees or bailees." According to the common law of England, if a person obtains possession of property for a specific purpose for the benefit of another, and afterwards fraudulently appropriates it, he is only civilly liable to a Court of Common Law or Equity. Many excep- tions have been introduced, thereby creating anomalies which are abo- lished by the bill, and all fraudulent appropriations involve a criminal responsibility.

Sir JOHN SHELLEY obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the law with respect to Joint-Stock Banks in England, so as to enable sharehold- ers to reelect at once and not, as the act at present provides after an in- terval of twelve months, directors who have gone out by annual rotation.

The CiraNcsi.r.ou of the EXCHEQUER has brought in a bill to amend the laws relating to fire-insurances. A foreign company has established an agency in England; and under the existing law it can evade the duty : Sir George Lewis's bill makes the duty payable whether the policy be made, signed, or issued within the United Kingdom, or elsewhere. The bill was read a first time on Thursday. The Howse of Commons sat many hours in Committee of Supply on Monday, and voted eighty-one items of the Civil Service Estimates. Among those items were various large sums for "Public Buildings and Royal Palaces," "Royal Parks and Gardens," "Public Buildings in Ire- land." Several Members, the most conspicuous among whom were Mr. W. WILLIAMS, Sir HENRY WILLOUGHBY, Mr. WISE, and Mr. BLACK- BURN, raised many objections. Large stuns had been expended on Royal Palaces,—on Hampton Court, Mr. Williams said, for the convenience of 4' the poor but haughty members of the aristocracy." Much money was voted for the London Parks,—an injustice to the country at large. In reference to the former, Sir BENJAMIN HALL stated, that only 3000/. of the sum of 195,141/. was applied to palaces in the occupation of her Ma- jesty; the larger portion of the vote was for public buildings and offices. The appointment to apartments in Hampton Court rests entirely with the Queen. How had they been conferred during the past year ? On the 4th of May, Lady Susan Strangways, the widow of General Strangways, re- ceived the grant of apartments in Hampton Court Palace ; on the 19th of June, a similar appointment was given to Mrs. Cureton ; on the 9th of July to Mrs. Boxer • subsequently to Mrs. Shadforth ; and on the 9th of December to Lady iorrens. [These statements were received with cheers.] On the vote of 91,684/. for maintaining and keeping in repair the Royal Parks and Gardens, Mr. BOWYER moved to reduce the vote by 22,1401., the amount of increase compared with the vote of last year.— Negatived by 119 to 35. Colonel DUNNE moved that the vote should be rejected altogether.—Negatived by 97 to 28. Mr. BOWYER moved that the vote should be reduced 2175/., the sum required for paving the foot- Vith in Birdcage Walk and the footpath between Hyde Park Corner and Knightsbridge.—Negatived by 83 to 19. On the vote of 93,383/., for works and expenses connected with the new Houses of Parliament, Sir HENRY WILLOUGHBY raised a discussion on the question of Sir Charles Barry's commission. Sir BENJAMIN HALL and Mr. WILSON stated that the Government had offered to pay Sir Charles 3 per cent on the outlay, and 1 per cent on the outlay for his personal trouble in measuring the work. That offer had been refused. Up to the close of the year 1852 Sir Charles had received 44,000/. • to which must be added 15,0001. for measurement, making a total of 59,000/. Until Sir Charles accepts the arrangement no further sums will be paid on account. The sum required to _finish the works in pro- gress is 280,2721.; the sum required for the execution of works proposed in the additional plans would be from 500,000/. to 800,000/. Govern- ment declined to submit the question to arbitration, although Sir Charles Barry was desirous that it should be so submitted.

On the vote of 458,275/. for printing and stationery for the Houses of Parliament and the public departments, Mr. WALPOLE, referring to the recommendations of the Select Committee on printing which sat last year, called attention to the large amount of the vote, and the necessity of controlling Committees of that House and Royal Commissions with regard to what should be printed, especially in the matter of appendices. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he was glad that attention had been tolled to the subject : there is great reason why an attempt should he made to reduce the expense of printing within moderate limits. It would be a delicate matter to interfere with the authority of Committees as regards evidence but many documents do find their way into ap- pendices not worth the expense of printing. The expenses have in- creased from the habit of printing a great number of forms of accounts. Mr. Vnineox Stirrn suggested that Mr. Walpole should take the sense of the House on the subject. It should be left to the decision of the Printing Committee, or of some other body, to determine what documents . should be printed. Mr. HENLEY would be glad if it should be found possible to reduce the vote without injury to the public service, but con- fessed that he was no advocate for cutting down the printing too much. Mr. DISRAELI could not adopt the views of Mr. Walpole. If half a million were spent in publishing information obtained by Parliamentary Committees, he should hesitate to sanction a reduction of that expendi- ture. Parliamentiu7 literature is one of the characteristics of the day ; it influences the decisions of the House—the prosperity of the country ; and it contributes not a little to the sound and judicious administration of public affairs.—The vote was agreed to.

TORTURE IN INDIA.

In the House of Lords on Thursday, the Earl of Auiraimitz moved for certain papers connected with some recent cases of torture in the Presidency of Madras. One of the taxes still levied in that Presidency, although abolished in the others, is called " moturpha." It is a tax on trade and occupations embracing weavers, carpenters, all workers in metals, all salesmen, Whether possessing shops, which are also taxed se- parately, or vending by the road-side, (to. ; some paying impost on their tools others for permission to sell ; extending to the most trifling articles of trade and the cheapest tools the mechanic can employ, the cost of 'which is frequently exceeded six times over by the moturpha, under 'which the use of them is permitted. On the 5th July 1855, Mr. Shu- brick, collector of Chengleput, directed one of his deputies, under penalty of a "severe order," to collect the loom-tax in the village of Pariapol- llum. The deputy, a native, ordered the weavers to appear be- fore him, and when they said they had no money wherewith to pay the tax, in the words of Mr. Shubrick, his deputy put them "under restraint." That is to say, he forced fourteen of the villagers to stand in the sun from eight in the morning till nearly ten at night, with their bodies bent towards their knees and the weight of a man upon their backs ! During this time they.had nothing to eat or drink. Their torture recommenced next day. They had no money ; but in compassion for them the women of the villages sold their ornaments to pay the tax. The collector, when this was complained of, thought that the deputy would be sufficiently punished if fined five ru- pees, or ten shillings. Lord Albemarle moved for papers relating to this piece of disgusting torture.

The Duke of ARGYLL said, there was no objection to the production of the papers, but at present they are not in the possession of the Go- verrunent. Every member of the Government desires to abolish the anoturpha tax : there are great difficulties in the way of its abolition, but ho trusted that in a short time they would be overcome.

The papers were ordered to be laid on the table. New Warw.

Just before the House adjourned on Wednesday, Mr. HArreat moved a new. ivxit for the election of a Member for Athlone, in the place of

the Right Honourable William Keogh, who has accepted the office of one of the ruisne Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in Ireland; and also a new writ for the election of a Member for Ennis, in the place of Mr. J. D. Fitzgerald, who has accepted the office of her Majesty's At- torney-General for Ireland.—Ordered.