future.

SIR CHARLES WOOD said, that no al- it would be included in the Returns in teration had actually been made in the Laws referred to by the hon. Gentleman, though two Bills had been introduced into the Governor General's Council on the subject, one of which was under consideration.

STEAM PACKET PIER AT HOLYHEAD.

QUESTION.

MR. H. A. HERBERT said, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, When it is the intention of the Government to proceed with the works on the Steam Packet Pier at Holyhead, for which has been voted by Parliament this

money Session?

LORD CLARENCE PAGET said, it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to proceed at once with the works at Holyhead, that is to say, with the strengthening of the pier and putting the roof upon it. The Government thought it due to the passengers, both to and from Ireland, that the work should be at once taken in hand without waiting for the conclusion of the negotiations between the London and North-Western and the Dublin Steam Packet Companies. He hoped, when the pier was completed, that the packets would keep their time.

FOREIGN PAPER.-QUESTION.

CHAPLAINCY OF THE YOUGHAL UNION.

QUESTION.

MR. BUTT said, he rose to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, When the Returns relative to the Chaplaincy of the Youghal Union, ordered by this House on the 6th day of June, renewing a similar order of last Session, will be laid upon the table of the House?

SIR ROBERT PEEL said, the Return was a very voluminous one; but the Poor Law Commission stated that it was in course of preparation, and would be ready to be laid on the table in about a fortnight.

LAND TENURE-INDIA.-QUESTION.

MR. SMOLLETT said, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, Whether any Resolution has recently been taken to introduce a permanent settlement of Land in India; and, if so, whether he will be prepared to lay upon the table of the House Copy of the Instructions forwarded to the Governor General for that purpose; and, if he is prepared to fix a day for introducing his annual Statement on Indian Finance?

SIR CHARLES WOOD: Sir, when the hon. Gentleman brought to my notice some time ago the question of the permanent MR. ASPINALL TURNER said, he settlement of Land in India, I was not would beg to ask the President of the able to give an answer on the subject, Board of Trade, Whether (seeing by the inasmuch as it was under the consideration Return recently made that the quantity of the Indian Council. I am now happy of Foreign Paper imported is far more to state that they have come to the conimportant than the quantity of Rags im-clusion to which the hon. Gentleman came ported, or the quantity of Paper exported, both of which appear in the Returns of Trade and Navigation) he will order that in future the quantity of Foreign Paper imported shall appear in the usual monthly

Returns?

MR. MILNER GIBSON said, the list of articles enumerated in the monthly Returns was revised every year, and, should the quantity of foreign paper imported continue to be as large as at present, it would be specified in the Returns. For the last few months the importation of foreign paper had been very fluctuating, being in one month only 2,000 cwt., and in another 38,000 cwt. It was difficult at present to decide whether it was of sufficient importance to take its place among the principal articles imported. But if the importation continued at its present rate,

long before-that it would be for the benefit of India that the system of permanent settlement of Land should be gradually introduced. I shall be happy to lay on the table the papers on the subject. With reference to the second question, I hope to be able to make the Indian financial statement on Monday next.

IRISH BUSINESS.-OBSERVATIONS. MR. SCULLY said, that as he saw the right hon. Baronet the Chief Secretary for Ireland in his place, he wished to ask him a question in reference to the Irish business before Parliament, and more cspecially with respect to the Bills which appeared on the paper for that evening. With a view to put himself in order, he would conclude by moving the adjourn

ment of the House. The matter was a duce into it. The Weights and Measures very important one, not only as regarded Bill was an extraordinary and mischievous the convenience of the Irish Members, attempt at legislation. It appeared by but also as regarded the conduct of the the paper that there were notices to take Irish business. He hoped that the Eng- certain clauses out of the Markets and lish Members, who were anxious to get Fairs Bill, and insert them in the Weights to the Thames Embankment Bill, would and Measures Bill. [Cries of "Order!" allow him a few moments for a matter of and "Chair!"] He appealed to hon. great interest to Ireland. He wanted to Gentlemen to allow him to proceed, and know distinctly and unequivocally from he would go at once to what occurred on the right hon. Baronet what he intended Friday night, or, more properly, at an to do with the four important Irish Bills early hour on Saturday morning. He was, which appeared upon the paper for that of course, also limited in speaking of this night, and which he had observed upon subject by the rules of the House, and he many papers a fact which had brought would be the last person in the House to down the Irish Members night after night violate any of its rules or orders. This was to their extreme inconvenience and posi- the first time he had availed himself of the tive physical injury. The Bills he alluded privileges given by those rules to make a to were the Markets and Fairs Bill, the statement of this description, and he would Weights and Measures (Ireland) Bill, the not do so but that the circumstances were Poor Relief (Ireland) (No. 2) Bill, and the extraordinary and unusual. ["Order!"] County Surveyors Bill. The Markets He was quite at liberty to refer to what ocand Fairs Bill had been constantly set curred, although, as he was aware, he could down. It was originally brought on upon not quote the precise statements made by the 1st of May, contrary to what he con- the right hon. Baronet. The sitting of ceived to have been the understanding, at Friday was the very longest of the present a time when several Irish Members were Session. They had a day sitting, commencabsent, and on the day when the Great ing at twelve o'clock, and by the records of Exhibition was opened. Since then it the House it appeared that they sat until had appeared, re-appeared, and disappear- a quarter to three o'clock; in fact, they ed, only to appear again. He did not sat continuously twelve hours and three complain of its being put down for that quarters. At half-past two o'clock in the night; but what he wanted to know was, morning attempts, and successful attempts, would it be brought on, or was it in- were made by the opposite side of the tended that there should be any result House to alter an important clause in the from it being put down? It might be Poor Law Bill, which had been adopted great sport to the right hon. Baronet, who after two or three months of discussion. lived hard by, who could postpone it, and That attempt was made in the absence of who knew at any hour of the evening hon. Members who took a deep interest in whether he intended to bring it on, but the subject, and decisions were come too who never communicated, directly or in- which could not be altered while the Bill directly, anything that could be relied remained in that House. At the sitting on to any one on that side of the House. on the 29th of May, a very important It was out of courtesy to the right hon. question arose as to retaining the words Baronet that he took the course he was "or otherwise." A long debate took now about to adopt, and which he admit- place on that occasion, and the words obted was an unusual one. The Irish Mem-jected to were ordered to be retained, bers had remained in attendance in the by 125 to 76, in a very full House for a House so long, night and day, that some morning sitting. That was a very emof them had succumbed to it, and had re- phatic expression of opinion; but, notturned to Ireland. He (Mr. Scully) had withstanding the decision so arrived at, it given notice of his intention to have the was on Friday night, or Saturday morning Markets and Fairs Bill re-committed, and last, suddenly, and by surprise-although, it was important to know what were the perhaps, not to the surprise of the right bond fide intentions of the right hon. Ba- hon. Baronet-reversed, after a rambling ronet with respect to that Bill. He had discussion of a few minutes, by a majority told them frequently during the last week of six. This was a matter which conthat it was his wish to proceed with it, cerned not merely Ireland - which was and he had placed on the paper certain more immediately affected by the decision Amendments which he wished to intro--but also the whole conduct of business

in the House; because, if it were to be set | Jurisdiction Bill and the Unlawful Oaths up as a precedent, the decision of any ma- Bill, had become law. There was, jority of the House might be reversed at then, the Assurances Registration Bill, three o'clock in the morning by a minority the Births and Deaths Registration Bill taking advantage of an accidental oppor- (which proposed to make policemen registunity for doing mischief. The right hon. trars), the Bastardy Bill, the Poor Law Baronet was, in his opinion, to some ex- Officers Superannuation Bill, the County tent responsible for what had been done Surveyors Bill-a useless measure, the obon Friday night, because he should have ject of which seemed to be to transfer the protested against the attempt of a minority examination of surveyors to London-the opposite to obtain an accidental triumph. Weights and Measures Bill, the Fairs and On the 20th of June, the Committee on Markets Bill, and the Poor Removal Bill. the Poor Relief Bill passed a clause limit- Among the seventeen Bills in the hands ing the number of proxies to be held by a of private Members were the Marriages single individual to ten; but at daybreak Bill of the hon. and learned Member for on the morning of the 5th of July the Belfast (Sir Hugh Cairns), the Donations minority, who had been defeated on the and Bequests Bill of the hon. Member for 20th of June, succeeded by a surprise in Waterford-a Bill which had also been getting the word "ten" struck out, and taken up by the Government-the Grand "twenty" inserted instead. He submitted Jury Secretaries Bill, which was withthat this was a matter which affected the drawn; the Land Debentures Bill, which general conduct of the business of the had been upset by the Chief Secretary House. It all arose, as he could show, having gone over to the Opposition side out of the horrid mode in which the Irish of the House, where he wished the right business was conducted. On Tuesday last hon. Baronet had stopped; the Debentures there was a morning sitting for Irish on Land Bill, which was as like the Land business only-the business on the paper Debentures Bill as live fish was to fish being the Poor Relief Bill. There were alive; the Drainage Bill, the Fisheries other Bills for the evening sitting, includ- Bill of Mr. Hennessy, the Elections for ing the Weights and Measures Bill, the Counties Bill, and the Bills of Exchange Markets and Fairs Bill, the Births and Bill, brought in by one of the hon. Members Deaths Registration Bill, and the County for the City of Dublin; the Chancery Regu Surveyors Bill. On Thursday the Poor lation Bill, the Tralee Savings Bank Bill, Relief Bill and the County Surveyors the Irish Barristers Bill, and one or two Bill were again on the paper; but no- others. In consequence of the necessity of thing was done with them, although attending to this mass of business, he had the Irish Members were watching them been obliged to give up all English business. for twelve hours and a half. On Friday, His whole time was taken up, in fact, in at the day sitting, the Irish Members endeavouring to obstruct dangerous legiswere kept in attendance, waiting for the lation. He hoped the right hon. Baronet Drainage Bill, which was now a Govern- the Chief Secretary for Ireland would ment measure, because they had entered confine his attempts at legislation to the into a compromise with the hon. and gal- Poor Removal Bill and to the better porlant Member for Limerick (Colonel Dick- tion of the Fairs and Markets Bill. In son), and had consented to take up the his opinion the right hon. Baronet was the Bill on consideration of the important wrong person in the wrong place. He Motion on the subject of the Irish Con- thought he should transfer his talents to stabulary having been withdrawn. The some other place, where they would be Fisheries Bill was on the paper for the more appreciated. During the last thirty evening sitting, but no progress was made years there had been seventeen Chief with either measure. There were no Secretaries. They were all still alive, and fewer than fifteen Government Bills, none he hoped that so far the right hon. Baroof which, with the exception of the Poor net would follow their example, and live Relief Bill, were of public advantage. a long time too. He, however, hoped that There were, in addition, seventeen other the noble Lord who had thrust the right Irish Bills promoted by private Members, hon. Baronet upon the country would resome of which were good and some bad. move him again. The noble Lord gave The Peace Preservation Bill was a most him, and perhaps the noble Lord would mischievous measure of the Government. take him away. In that event, the right This Bill, together with the Summary hon. Baronet would be entitled to com

pensation for all he had gone through, | night, to remain until a late hour in order and therefore he hoped he would be ele- to advance business as far as possible. No vated to the rank of Baron Tamworth, doubt a great number of changes in the or, perhaps, to the more appropriate office of Irish Secretary had taken place distinction of Earl of Donnybrook. He within the last half century, and therefore (Mr. Scully) had attended in his place if the same system were to continue his night after night, at the risk of his life. tenure of office would indeed be short. He If he had not the constitution of half-a- wished he could say the same thing of the dozen individuals, he would have had to hon. and learned Member for Cork. If follow the example of the hon. and learn- that were the case, the hon. and learned ed Member for Mallow (Mr. Longfield), Gentleman's tenure of office would certainand obtain leave of absence for the rest of ly expire at the end of the Session, and the Session. The noble Lord at the head that House would not have the pleasure of of the Government generally made his ap- seeing him in the next Session. Now, in pointments with much tact, but why he reference to the Bills upon the Paper. sent the right hon. Baronet to Ireland was The Poor Relief (Ireland) Bill, he trusted, a profound mystery. The fact was, that would receive a third reading that night. the Chief Secretary had set the whole The County Surveyors (Ireland) Bill was country in a flame. He (Mr. Scully) a measure of great importance, and one dreaded the coming recess, when the right which was much wanted in Ireland. [Mr. hon. Baronet would have uninterrupted SCULLY: No, no!] The Fairs and Markets possession of Ireland, and could carry on (Ireland) Bill, he had at one time thought his proceedings without any Parliamentary would be passed this Session. It was a control. Let the right hon. Baronet make measure which had been much discussed, himself scarce in Ireland, and he would and one which would work a great deal have his (Mr. Scully's) best wishes. He of good in Ireland. He, however, did not could not deny that the right hon. Ba- now think it possible to pass it through ronet had great natural talents; and if Parliament this Session, but there were he turned his abilities in another direc- two principles contained in the Bill which tion, he would succeed better; but he was he hoped would be adopted by the House not the man to judge of the wants, wishes, in another form. Those principles were and feelings of the people of Ireland. It the establishment of a uniform standard was with regret he found himself obliged of weights and measures in Ireland, and to make a statement of this nature, and he the abolition of the charges for weighing only did so on the promptings of urgent in the markets. He proposed to introduty. He had never done so before, and duce two clauses bearing upon both points he hoped he would never have to do so in the Weights and Measures (Ireland) again. To put himself in order, he now Bill. The adoption of two such principles begged to move the adjournment of the would, he thought, prove of the greatest House. advantage to the small farmers in Ireland as well as to all other persons interested in the matter. He therefore proposed to drop the Fairs and Markets (Ireland) Bill-a step, he confessed, he took with the greatest reluctance. He did not think it would be possible to proceed that night with the Weights and Measures (Ireland) Bill, but he hoped he would be able to proceed with the County Surveyors (Ireland) Bill after the Poor Relief (Ireland) Bill was disposed of.

SIR ROBERT PEEL said, he was already obliged to his hon. and learned Friend for his great courtesy towards him, and for the unequivocal terms in which he was good enough to refer to him in connection with his official duties during the present Session of Parliament. He (Sir Robert Peel), however, did not think that the House generally, or the other hon. Members from Ireland, would coincide in the opinion of the hon. and learned Gentleman, that he had manifested any intention of proceeding unfairly with the Irish business he had introduced. If the hon. and learned Gentleman had been kept to a late hour at night waiting for those measures to be brought on, he did not suffer that inconvenience alone. He (Sir Robert Peel) was also a sufferer in that respect, having been also compelled, night after

Motion, by leave, withdrawn.

THE STAFFORDSHIRE MILITIA.
QUESTION.

MR. MAGUIRE said, he rose to ask the Secretary of State for War, Whether he has any objection to produce a Copy of the Resignation of Nicholas C. Whyte,