Commons Sitting of 9 February 1877

MINUTES.
NEW WRIT ISSUED—For Wilton, v. Sir Edmund Antrobus, baronet, Chiltern Hundreds.
SELECT COMMITTEE —Standing Standing Orders, nominated; Selection, nominated; Printing, appointed.
PUBLIC BILLS—Resolutions in Committee—Ordered—First Reading—Intoxicating Liquors (Scotland) * [13]; Intoxicating Liquors (Licensing Boards)* [24]; Burials* [36]; Intoxicating Liquors (Ireland)* [37]; Permissive Prohibitory Liquor* [42]; Companies Acts Amendment* [45]; Divine Worship Facilities* [47]; Beerhouses, &c. (Ireland) [57].
Ordered—First Reading—Prisons [1]; Universities of Oxford and Cambridge [2]; Prisons (Ireland) [3]; Prisons (Scotland) [4]; Justices of Peace, &c. (Clerks' Fees) [5]; Volunteer Corps (Ireland)* [6]; Cruelty to Animals* [7]; Newspapers Registration* [8]; Summary Prosecutions [9]; Territorial Waters Jurisdiction* [10]; Town Councils and Local Boards* [11]; Ecclesiastical Offices and Fees* [12]; Entails and Settlements Limitation* [14]; Parliamentary Registration (Ireland)* [15]; Ancient Monuments* [16]; Women's Disabilities Removal* [17]; Metropolis Toll Bridges* [18]; Franchise Extension (Ireland)* [19]; Threshing Machines [20]; Land Tenure (Ireland)* [21]; Locomotives on Common Roads* [22]; House Occupiers Disqualification Removal* [23]; Game Laws (Scotland) Amendment* [25]; Crossed Cheques on Bankers* [26]; Plum-stead Common Preservation* [27]; Union Justices (Ireland)* [28]; Colonial Marriages* [29]; Church Rates Abolition (Scotland)* [30]; Banns of Marriage (Scotland)* [31]; Hypothec (Scotland)* [32]; Union Rating (Ireland) [33]; Local Government in Towns (Ireland)* [34]; Congé d' élire* [35]; Registration of Borough Voters* [38]; Employers and Workmen Act (Extension to Seamen)* [39]; Real Estate of Intestates* [40]; Married Women's Property (Scotland)* [11]; Legal Practitioners* [43]; Sea Fisheries (Ireland)* [44]; Poor Law Guardians Elections (Ireland)* [46]; Irish Church Acts Amendment* [48]; imprisonment for Debt Abolition"* [49]; Sale of Intoxicating Liquors on Sunday (Ireland)* [50]; Landlord and Tenant (Ireland) Act (1870) Amendment* [51]; Monastic and Conventual Institutions* [52]; Parliamentary Electors Registration* [53]; Racecourses (Licensing)* [54]; University Education (Ireland)* [55]; Tenant Right (Ireland)* [56]; Agricultural Holdings (Ireland)* [58]; Parliamentary and Municipal Registration* [59]; Forfeiture Relief* [60]; Settled Estates* [61]; Open Spaces (Metropolis)* [62].

IRELAND—SUNDAY CLOSING OF PUBLIC HOUSES.—QUESTION.
MR. O'CLERYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, If it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government, having regard to the decisive majority of the House last Session, to introduce a Bill dealing with the question of the closing of public houses in Ireland on Sunday?
SIR MICHAEL HICKS - BEACH: Sir, in the first place, I may remind the hon. Member that Notice has already been given by my hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor General for Ireland and myself of the introduction of three important Irish Bills, dealing with subjects on which early legislation has for a long time past seemed to the Government necessary, ands that the time at the disposal of the Government in this House is limited. In the second place, I observe that the hon. Member for Derry (Mr. R. Smyth) has already given Notice of his intention to introduce a Bill on this subject; and I see no reason why the Government should attempt to take it out of his hands. The Government have already shown their respect to the decision of the House to which reference has been made by their action last Session with regard to the Bill of the hon. Member for county Derry. They are prepared to adopt a similar course this year; but I shall hope by some means or other to obtain a more favourable opportunity than then presented itself for placing fully before the House the information from which it appeared advisable to the Government that the measure of the hon. Member for Derry should not be brought into full effect in the large towns of Ireland.

INDIA—KHELAT—AFGHANISTAN.

  QUESTIONS.
  MR. GRANT DUFFasked the Under Secretary of State for India, What number of troops the Indian Government has at present within the dominions of the Khan of Khelat, where they, are stationed, and on what duties they are employed; and, whether any arrangements have been come to with the Ameer of Afghanistan for the residence of a European servant of the Indian Government at Herat or at any other place within Afghan territory?
  LORD GEORGE HAMILTON: Sir, so far as we know, the only troops at present within the territories of the Khan of Khelat are the escort sent with Major Sandeman, who was deputed by the late Viceroy to settle the disputes between the Khan and his Sirdars, and arrange for the undisturbed passage of caravans through the Bolan Pass. Major Sandeman remains in Khelat territory at the request of the Khan.
  MR. GRANT DUFF: What is the number of the troops?
  LORD GEORGE HAMILTON: I believe somewhat under 1,000 men.
  MR. GRANT DUFF: Where are they stationed?
  LORD GEORGE HAMILTON: I am not certain where they are at the present moment. They will no doubt move about the country as circumstances require.

NAVY — OFFICERS OF THE ROYAL MARINES AND ENGINEER DEPARTMENT.—QUESTION.
MR. GORSTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether any measures have yet been adopted by the Government for improving the position of the Officers of the Royal Marines and of the Engineer Department of the Royal Navy?
MR. HUNT, in reply, said, that neither the Marine nor Engineer officers had been forgotten by Her Majesty's Government, and he purposed when moving the Navy Estimates to state what had been done in reference to them.

BRITISH SUBJECTS IN FOREIGN SERVICE.—QUESTION.
MR. O'REILLYasked Mr. Chanceller of the Exchequer, Whether there are at present any person or persons in the service of the Crown, or other British subjects serving, with the permission of the Crown in the naval or military forces of Turkey; whether Her Majesty's Government have considered the question of withdrawing such permission; and, whether any such permission will be granted in future?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, in reply, said, that there were at present two officers who were formerly in the service of the Crown in the service of Turkey, and three in that of
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Egypt. Those in the Turkish service were the Hon. Captain Hobart and Retired Naval Lieutenant Woods; while those in the service of Egypt were Retired Captain M'Killop, Retired Commander George Morris, and Retired Major James Morris, of the Royal Marines. No person in the military service of the Crown had permission to serve in the naval or military services of Egypt or Turkey. No question had been raised as to the withdrawal of the permission which had been given to the naval officers in question, and with regard to the future, it was impossible for the Government to give any information as to details.

PUBLIC HEALTH — PURE VACCINE LYMPH.—QUESTION.
SIR TREVOR LAWRENCEasked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether, having regard to the severity of the present epidemic of small pox, the urgent necessity of providing facilities for vaccination in its most efficient form, and the prejudices which, however unreasonable, exist in some parts against vaccination from arm to arm, he will take steps to provide a supply of vaccine lymph from the calf for such public vaccinators as may require it, as is done in Belgium?
MR. SCLATER-BOOTH: In reply to my hon. Friend, Sir, I can assure him that the subject of vaccination from the calf has not been overlooked by Her Majesty's Government. The practice, as pursued in Belgium and other countries, was investigated personally by the present Medical Officer of Health of the Local Government Board. The results of that inquiry will be found in the 12th annual. Report of the Medical Officer of the Privy Council, and they were not favourable to the adoption of the practice. Subsequent experiences of it have been of a conflicting character. The subject is now attracting attention in the country, and will not be lost sight of by the Local Government Board.

SOLDIERS IN SKATING RINKS — UNIFORM.—QUESTION.
COLONEL KENNARDasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether his attention has been called to a letter which appeared in the "Standard" of the 2nd of February, signed by a Royal Engineer, relating the circumstances

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under which he, a soldier wearing Her Majesty's uniform, was expelled on that account from the Luton Skating Rink (Bedfordshire); and whether steps, if any, could be taken to prevent the repetition of any such similar occurrence at places of public resort?
MR. GATHORNE HARDY: Sir, in reply to the Question of the hon. and gallant Member, I have to say that my attention was drawn by his Question to the letter which appeared in the Standard newspaper, which I find is anonymous, being signed "A Royal Engineer," and that I have no means of ascertaining whether the circumstances stated in the letter are correct. I may observe that the Government have no power to prevent institutions of this kind from making such bye-laws and regulations as they may think fit; though, at the same time, I much regret that any slight should have been offered to Her Majesty's uniform.

NAVY — H.M.S. "NEWCASTLE" — LOSS OF LIFE.—QUESTION.
MR. HANBURY-TRACYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether his attention has been called to an article in the "Army and Navy Gazette" of February 3 entitled "Left to Die," in which the Captain of H.M.S. "Newcastle" is stated not to have taken sufficient steps to rescue the lives of Mr. Wingfield, midshipman, and two able seamen who had gallantly jumped overboard to save a man from drowning; whether he is able to contradict the statement there made—
"That in one short hour after the man fell overboard, before she had sighted the men or the life-buoy, the boat was recalled, and the ship stood away. That the Commander begged the Captain to 'beat up' to the spot where the men were likely to be still battling for life, but that the Captain declined to do so. That throughout the ship and the squadron there is a most painful impression that either from apathy, want of presence of mind, or absence of resource, these gallant fellows were left to die."
And, whether a court of inquiry has been held to investigate into all the circumstances of the case; and, if not, whether, in justice to the Captain and the honour of the Naval Service, he will give directions to hold one forthwith?
MR. HUNT: Sir, I have read the article to which the Question of the hon. Gentleman refers; but I am unable
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at the present moment either to confirm, or to contradict the facts set forth in it. I am sorry, however, to say that it is correct in the main fact that an unfortunate loss of life occurred on the occasion to which it alludes. I have received the following extract from a Report, dated 18th December, 1876, from the Captain of H.M.S. Newcastle to Rear Admiral Lambert, commanding the Detached Squadron to which his vessel belongs:—
"At about 2.50 p.m. yesterday (December 13) Mr. Wingfield, midshipman, had hove the log, when William Miles stepped on the lower half of the starboard quarter port for the purpose of snatching the log line, when he slipped and fell overboard, Mr. Wingfield jumping after him. The life buoy was immediately let go, and the ship brought to the wind on the port tack. She was running with single reefed topsails, and both courses, between 8 and 9 knots, with a very nasty, irregular sea. The lifeboat was at once cleared and lowered, and signalmen and look-out men were placed aloft in the mizen top, rigging, and topmast crosstrees to look out, but before the cutter was clear of the ship Myles was observed to throw his arms up, and Mr. Wingfield struggling to support him, when both were lost sight of. In the meantime, Robert Hesk, A.B., and George Reed, A.B., had jumped from the quarter of the ship, and both were observed making for the life buoy, but disappeared before they succeeded in reaching it, and I grieve to say were never again seen on the surface. The lifeboat (first cutter) was ordered to pull on the bearings for the men, but she failed, after some time in looking about, to discover anything of them, when I reluctantly, after an hour's unsuccessful search, ordered the recall to be hoisted. The boat was clear of the ship in about three minutes from the time the alarm was given."
Since receiving the Report I have not been able to communicate with the Squadron, which is now under orders for home, so that I am unable to say whether the Admiral has ordered an inquiry into the matter. If he has not done so, I shall certainly cause inquiry to be made, so that the full particulars may be elicited.

LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S DEPARTMENT—FIRES IN PLACES OF AMUSEMENT.

  QUESTION.
  SIR WILLIAM FRASER, asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether, should he consider the power of the Lord Chamberlain in adequate, he will, by increasing or altering such power, provide for the security of the public visiting places of public amusement?
  MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, that the Lord Chamberlain had been in communication with the Home Office on the subject for some time; but that it being found necessary to take the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown on the point, no steps had yet been taken in the matter. The question, however, was under consideration, their opinion on the case having just been received.

STORAGE AND CONVEYANCE OF WATER.—QUESTION.
MR. WHALLEYasked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether it is his intention to introduce a Bill for affording facilities for the storage and conveyance of water, pursuant to the recommendation of the Commission in their Sixth Report on the Pollution of Rivers and Domestic Water Supply?
MR. SCLATER-BOOTH: I presume, Sir, the recommendation to which the hon. Gentleman alludes is
"that the owners of land should be permitted to include the cost of village water supply among those expenses which they are now enabled to charge on their estates, with consent of the Improvement Commissioners."
Taken by itself this would hardly be for me to initiate, but taken in connection with another well-known recommendation of the Sanitary Commission, it would become of considerable importance. Having regard, however, to the amendments in the law which were effected in the Public Health Act of 1875, I am not prepared at this moment to introduce any Bill having the limited object suggested by the hon. Gentleman.

THE ADDRESS IN ANSWER TO THE QUEEN'S SPEECH.
Report of Address brought up, and read.
MR. GRANT DUFF: Sir, before the Report is agreed to, I wish to call attention to an omission in Her Majesty's gracious Speech, which is, I think, very unfortunate. We were told of the famine in Southern India; we were told of the Delhi pageant; but no allusion whatever was made to the astounding calamity which destroyed a vast number of Her Majesty's subjects close to the capital of Her Majesty's Eastern Dominions. The
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noble Lord the Mover of the Address (Viscount Galway), guided, I think, by a happier inspiration than that under which the Cabinet settled the details of the Royal Speech, did allude to the sad event, but surely the Speech itself should have made some mention of it, especially as it was the first Royal Speech delivered since the proclamation of the Imperial Title. An hon. Member addressing his constituents in a town of Northern England the other day referred to the curious manner in which we pass over with little remark occurrences of great importance in distant parts of Her Majesty's dominions, and he used an extremely happy illustration. If, he said, a storm takes place on our coast, and 30 men go down at the mouth of the Tyne, there is a great and general excitement; but now 250,000 persons have been destroyed in India in one moment, just as if the whole population of the county of Northumberland had been swept into the sea. That I thought a striking illustration when I read it, and I confess I did not expect so soon to meet with so startling a confirmation of the truth which the hon. Member was enforcing. I hope the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the House will be able to tell us that it was not forgetfulness, but some sufficient and explicable, though not obvious reason which excluded allusion to such a tragedy from the gracious Speech of yesterday. Surely to have said one kind word about it would have been very agreeable to Her Majesty's own feelings, and to show that India has its fair, though not more than its fair, place in the thoughts of its Ruler would, I cannot help thinking, do more to attach the inhabitants of that country to the Throne than much burning of powder in salutes, or the congregating of any number of elephants amongst the ruined cities which surround the present Delhi, and whose fallen magnificence must, in the eyes of some of the observers have given a touch of grim irony to the Imperial display. I the more regret that this terrible visitation has been left without mention, because it fell chiefly upon the peasantry, and because of late the tendency—the result, I trust, of accidental circumstances—has been, I think, to bring the Princes and Potentates of the Peninsula a little too prominently into relief at the expense both of the humbler

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classes of the Natives and of the European servants of the Crown, by whose brains and arms the Empire was wisely and bravely won, and is mainly held.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: Sir, I cannot wonder at what has just fallen from the hon. Gentleman, and I may say this, that the omission to which he refers is one which struck my noble Friend Lord Salisbury. I think I may fairly say that if Lord Salisbury had been present amongst us at the time of the early discussions of the draft of the Queen's Speech, that omission would not have occurred; but on the only occasion on which his Lordship was able to attend the Cabinet before the Queen's Speech was finally settled there were other matters which attracted attention. I can only say that this terrible calamity is one of which it is impossible to speak with too much gravity or too much sympathy. It is perfectly true that the calamity is one which I believe is altogether unparalleled in the history of the world. Of all the famous catastrophes, including the famous earthquake which took place in the last century at Lisbon, there is nothing to compare with this fearful disaster. On the other hand, the disaster is of a kind which is apparently beyond the reach of human means of prevention. It was not, as in the case of the Famine, a matter in which it was possible to take precautionary measures to prevent such calamities happening in the future. Therefore, it was not a matter immediately under consideration, whereas the Famine was a subject which for some two months was directly under our notice, and the question necessarily arose as to what steps the Government could and ought to take. But I can assure my hon. Friend that it is a matter of serious regret to the Government that by an oversight there should have been an omission on the part of those who advise Her Majesty—an omission of a subject the notice of which, as he says, would have been very grateful to the people of India.
Address agreed to:—To be presented by Privy Councillors.

SUPPLY.
Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday next, resolve itself into a Committee to consider of the Supply to be granted to Her Majesty.
WAYS AND MEANS.
Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday next, resolve itself into a Committee to consider of the Ways and Means for raising the Supply to be granted to Her Majesty.
PRISONS BILL.

  LEAVE. FIRST READING.
  MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in rising to move for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Law relating to Prisons in England, said, he wished to remind the House that he introduced a Bill on that subject last Session, and after the very strong opinion which was expressed on the second reading by a majority of 200 in favour of the views of the Government on that matter, he would not take up the time of the House in explaining it again. But during the Recess he had had an opportunity of hearing what had been said about the Bill in the country, and he had thought it right to give expression in the measure itself rather more to what he had always stated had been the intentions of the Government—namely, to bring the visiting justices and the Home Secretary in more direct communication with each other. Some objection was taken last year to the appointment of what were called assistant Commissioners, and he presumed that it was imagined that those officials would ride rough-shod over the visiting justices. That was not so, as he had always stated; and he had retained the original name of "Inspectors," and had made such alterations in the Bill as would show to the visiting justices, at all events, that when they came to any conclusion on a point upon which there might be any variety of opinion, the minds of the Home Secretary and the assistant Commissioners should be exercised thereon. He had also inserted in the Bill certain words for carrying out what he had always said was the intention of the Government, that the Secretary of State should himself define what should be the duties of the visiting justices, in conjunction with himself, in the carrying on and management of prisons. Several Amendments, suggested by what had taken place last year, were well worthy of attention. For instance, a good deal was said about intermediate prisons, and the desirability of the

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  Secretary of State having a prison for every county; and in reference to that point, he had thought it right to provide that that Minister should have one prison in each county, unless there were some special reasons why he should think it unnecessary, and those reasons he would leave the Home Secretary to lay before the House. He did not think it right to take away summarily a gaol from a county. Some question had also been raised as to whether the Home Secretary had a right to make certain rules with respect to the hard labour of prisoners for the first three months of their sentence; and, though he still believed he had the legal power, he considered it better not to strain the statute, but to put in the Bill a special provision enabling the Secretary of State, under certain conditions, to remit the rigorous rule of hard labour with regard to the first tasks, and the first months of confinement, so as to make labour more industrial than penal. He had also inserted provisions enabling him to make certain regulations with respect to the food and treatment of prisoners in custody who were confined but not convicted, and for the purpose of regulating the treatment of persons who were imprisoned, not for criminal offences, but simply under order of the justices for non-payment of money. These were the main alterations of the Bill, the Preamble remained the same, and in carrying it into effect, it was the desire and intention of the Government to co-operate cordially with the visiting justices throughout the country. The right hon. Gentleman concluded by moving for leave to bring in the Bill.
  MR. WHALLEYthought it would be discovered that there was not one of the Amendments of which the right hon. Gentleman had spoken which would be found in the Bill, and the whole object of the right hon. Gentleman could be effected by a mere communication from the Home Office to the visiting justices. The gigantic and almost unparalleled centralization introduced into prison management by the Bill was not called for by the voice of the country. The Return which he (Mr. Whalley) had obtained in answer to a Motion of last Session furnished the key to the right hon. Gentleman's whole position. A deliberate bribe was offered in the payment of a portion of the expenses out
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  of the Imperial Exchequer, and the real object of the Bill was to give the Government an opportunity to appoint the prison chaplains. The right hon. Gentleman had given up the assistant Commissioners and all the other changes which were put forward on the ground of economy, but he would not surrender the right of appointing these chaplains. There were only 10 gaols in England in which Roman Catholic chaplains had been accepted, against 99 where they had been refused, which showed the beneficial action of the local authorities.
  MR. NEWDEGATEsaid, that although not surprised at the re-introduction of the Bill, he nevertheless regretted it, because he thought that when a large majority in that House sanctioned the second reading of the measure last Session they had then hardly sufficiently considered the extent of the constitutional changes which it would effect. They ought to be careful how, by invading the province of the local authorities in the counties and boroughs, they might be sapping the foundations of the constitutional system which had grown up in this country, and paving the way for a system of centralization that had not been attended in France with a success which would justify us in rashly adopting it. The change proposed by that Bill, as he understood it, was that the visiting justices in the administration of prisons should cease to be, as heretofore, officers appointed by the Crown, directed by law, and under the supervision of the Lord Chancellor, and should become, quoad the administration of prisons, officers of the Home Secretary and the Government of the day. He was aware that since the abolition of transportation the accommodation in our convict prisons had grown wholly inadequate, and that it might be thought more economical to turn their county gaols into convict prisons than to erect new buildings at home or abroad. That was a consideration which, no doubt, ought to have due weight; but he rejoiced that the Bill was not passed last Session, as time was thus afforded both for the country and for Parliament to awaken to a sense of the important constitutional bearings of that measure.
  MR. M'CARTHY DOWNINGdenied that there was any ground for apprehending any undue proportion of Roman Catholics being appointed as chaplains,

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  and would remind the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Whalley) that a Committee had reported two or three years ago that it should be compulsory on the magistrates to appoint Roman Catholic clergymen where a certain number of Catholic prisoners were confined, and that a Bill had been introduced in the House of Lords founded on that Report and passed without challenge, and was read a second time in this House, but was at last referred to that basket where the Innocents were destroyed.
  SIR HARCOURT JOHNSTONEasked when the Bill would be in the hands of hon. Members?
  MR. MUNDELLAsaid, he did not gather from the right hon. Gentleman's statement whether he took powers under the Bill to control prison labour. It was to the interest of the prisoners that when they left prison they should be in possession of some handicraft whereby they could have recourse to honest labour when they were discharged.
  DR. KENEALY: I regret that the right hon. Gentleman has not made better provision for the internal regulation and management of prisons. I believe that in nearly all our prisons a vast amount of moral and physical torture is inflicted on prisoners that was never contemplated by law. A prisoner who makes any complaint never receives any redress for his grievance, although there is a pretence of a tribunal that will hear him. The right hon. Gentleman will remember that when complaints were made some time ago, with reference to the treatment of the Fenian prisoners, the Home Office for a long time was deaf, but was at length constrained by public opinion to grant an inquiry into those complaints. A Commission and Commissioners were appointed, and evidence was taken, and a Report published; but I am informed that the whole Irish people did not heed that Report, and that they still believe that the complaints were well founded. These observations are preliminary to my mention of a name which in this House, I am sorry to say, is always received with laughter, with mockery, and with scorn, but which, in the homes of hundreds of thousands of the people of this country, is never mentioned without exciting the deepest sympathy and sorrow. I have seen strong men shed tears, and women weep, even
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  to hysterics, when they remembered—what they, at all events, considered to be—the enormities of the Tichborne Trial. I bring forward this subject, not in the interests of that unfortunate man alone, but in those of humanity; and in these interests I hope I shall" be heard. I hold in my hand the copies of letters which have been written by two gentlemen, Messrs. Onslow and Helsby, who recently visited the prisoner in Dartmoor. The treatment and condition of that unhappy gentleman must awaken the sympathies of all persons who are really Christian men. I do not care whether they be Ortonites or Tichbornites; or how strongly they may feel against him; but I ask all in the name of humanity and common Christian charity to listen to the accounts given by these gentlemen, accounts which outdo in horror anything that we read of in foreign prisons. Mr. Onslow visited Sir Roger Tichborne in November last, and he thus describes the interview—
  "After waiting some twenty minutes in the lodge, we were beckoned to by a warder who conducted us down a yard, and told us to wait in a stone recess about three feet square, where we were speedily locked in. We observed in front of us, behind some gigantic iron bars, a similar recess, and then again another, like a wild beast's cage, into which was ushered the best abused man in England."
  Now, here, Sir, I beg leave to ask, of what possible use, except to inflict cruel and unnecessary torture, it could be to immure persons behind iron bars of this description? It could not be for purposes of security, for precautions to the full are taken to secure that. When I was in Dartmoor with Mr. Onslow I learned that the warders who see to the prisoners have always their guns loaded, with orders to fire and kill them if they attempt to escape. It cannot therefore be against the risk of this, that prisoners are treated in this manner; and how harrowing it must be to the feelings of their friends or relatives, their wives or mothers or sisters, to see them exhibited "like wild beasts." Mr. Onslow goes on—
  "The warder occupied the centre compartment with watch in hand, keeping a vigilant eye on the minutes as they rapidly flew by, when he informed us time was up and we must go.' The poor prisoner expressed his pleasure at seeing us, and declared, with tears in his eyes, he had seen no one, or exchanged a single word with any one, since we last had met in May. I never saw

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  him so utterly and completely broken-hearted with a face oh ! so aged, he looked seventy; the iron had entered into his soul. He complained most bitterly at the cruel and malignant manner lie had been treated by the authorities of the prison, and in feeble words choked with tears he implored us to convey to Dr. Kenealy his earnest desire that he should move in the House of Commons for an enquiry into the causes of the shameful treatment which he had experienced; he absolutely cried for justice, and was about to relate the cruelties he had suffered, when the warder intervened and informed him it was contrary to the rules of the prison to touch on those topics. But we saw quite enough to assure us that something dreadful had occurred that had wounded his feelings to the quick."
  Now, Sir, I beg respectfully to call the right hon. Gentleman's attention to this matter; and I hope that in his present Bill he will provide anew for it. I hope his iron-barred dungeons will not be preserved; they can have no other object than to infuse misery into the soul of the prisoner. So, too, it appears that by the prison rules—and I am afraid that the right hon. Gentleman's Bill does not contemplate any alteration of these rules—if a prisoner's father or mother visits him, he is not allowed to give to that beloved relative any account whatever of the treatment which he receives from the prison authorities. I call that a very great grievance. I call it a grievous hardship for any man's mouth to be sealed up in that way: but Ho matter what insolence or tyranny he may have been subjected to in prison, ho is absolutely forbidden to give any information to those persons who might bring it before the public, so that inquiry might be made, and the grievances, if true, be redressed. I ask the right hon. Gentleman's particular attention to what I am now going to read. If it be true, as suggested here, it is one of the greatest scandals.
  MR. WHALLEY: I rise to Order. I wish to call attention to the fact that during the statement of the hon. Member for Stoke—a statement which I will not believe; if I did, I should deem it no satisfaction to sit in this House amongst the Gentlemen around me who are laughing at it; but it is at least worthy of attention, and is most harrowing to the minds of those men who listen to it—the right hon. Gentleman opposite (Mr. Cross) has been deliberately occupying himself by speaking to the hon. Member by his side.
  MR. SPEAKER: I understood the hon. Member to rise to a point of
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  Order. He has not stated the point of Order.
  MR. WHALLEY: I beg pardon. It is intended to attract the right hon. Gentleman's attention to what I think concerns the honour of this country.
  DR. KENEALY: Sir, I have made no complaint. I am bound, in justice to the right hon. Gentleman, to say that whenever I have called his attention, as I have already, to any particular portion of this letter, he has listened. The passage which I now read has not been suggested by the prisoner, because, as we have already seen, he was forbidden to complain; but it is the common talk at Dartmoor and the neighbeurhood, and has probably its foundation in what the prison warders have themselves said—
  "Report says he has been subjected to the indecent inspection of his person for mere motives of curiosity to see the malformation which undoubtedly existed in Mr. Roger Tichborne; whether this report is true or not I cannot say, but we heard sufficient from the Claimant himself to show us that an immediate inquiry is necessary."
  Sir, I can only say that if this horrible story be true, and if the prisoner has been, indeed, subjected to this indecent treatment, that it is the incumbent duty of the right hon. Gentleman to make immediate inquiry; and if he finds it to be true, I hope he will visit it with his marked displeasure. Mr. Onslow continued—
  "The miserable and wretched box we were forced to stand in for twenty minutes was a disgrace to a civilized country; the dungeons of Spielberg, and the strangers' room in the vaults of the convict prisons of Naples, were comfortable in comparison, and what a contrast to the kindness and civility which we have always experienced at the hands of the late governor of the gaol, Major North, who always placed his private room at our disposal on every occasion of our former visits. It was so dark in this detestable and abominable place I could scarcely see to read out the questions I had taken the precaution to write."
  Sir, the right hon. Gentleman must know whether or not this is a true description of those particular dungeons in Dartmoor in which prisoners are exhibited. I say that no man, no matter what crime he may have committed, ought in this England of ours, which affects to be so free, and professes to be so civilized and humane, to be shown to any of the outside world in dungeons of this description. I do not see the right

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  hon. Gentleman the Member for Greenwich in his place; but I remember how he excited the anger, the indignation, and the sympathy of the whole country when, some years ago, he published a volume describing the atrocities that were perpetrated in the Neapolitan dungeons under the late Monarchy: but I say that there is nothing in Mr. Glad-stone's volume, and nothing that the Italian lawyer, Pœrio, fled from, that was a greater disgrace to a civilized and professedly Christian country than dungeons such as those that Mr. Onslow described existing among ourselves. It might be said that Mr. Onslow was a man of sanguine temperament; and that he probably saw things under the influence of an over-heated fancy, but his statement was fully corroborated by Mr. Helsby, who accompanied him. Now, I know Mr. Helsby, and I can say that a man of more clear, calm, and collected judgment England does not possess; or one less likely to exaggerate in the least what he saw. And thus Mr. Helsby describes this painful scene—
  "We entered the prison about 2 o'clock, Mr. Onslow giving our names to the authorities, but it seems that both the governor and deputy governor were absent. After waiting several minutes we were introduced into a sort of cage and the door closed on us; there was barely room for the three to stand abreast of each other in front of the iron bars which faced us, nearly as thick as one's wrist; then came a passage into which entered the warder by another door; beyond the warder another row of thick iron bars, and beyond that, as it were in another cage, Tichborne was shown like a wild beast in a menagerie; as he stood leaning with his arms on the stone wall that supported the iron bars, his face was illuminated from a small window on his right hand side, this being the only light in either of the compartments. I did not remove my eyes from him during the time Mr. Onslow asked and received answers to sundry questions—excepting to glance occasionally at the warder, who stood with his watch in hand during the twenty minutes this painful interview lasted—when he had finished I read a message from his wife, who denied ever having been near the prison with little Roger, or making any attempt to get permission from the authorities to do so. He was much affected when I told him that I had kissed his children for him before leaving home. Tichborne is slightly stouter than when I saw him in November last year, but he looks considerably older. I observed that his neck was much swollen, and a number of sores or ulcers round his throat—one on the right hand side appearing to be about the size of a sixpence. I have no doubt at all that he is being cruelly treated by his task-masters—and he would have told us all particulars, if he had been free to speak—but the warder prevented it, and in-
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  formed him that it was against the rule of the prison to make any communication. He replied that he would not and did not wish to break any rules; and so confined himself to imploring and beseeching us in strong and earnest tones to ask Dr. Kenealy or some other kind friend to move the House of Commons for a Commission of Inquiry into the matter. From the nature of the various rumours current in Plymouth, coupled with the prisoner's protestations, the request is nothing but a reasonable and just one, as I am quite sure that he would not complain without good grounds. Although the enemies of this unfortunate man have placed him beyond the pale of the law, they have no right to attempt to put him beyond the pale of humanity. We besought him to have courage and to place confidence and faith in God—that we represented the feeling and sympathy of countless thousands of true-hearted Englishmen and women, who would never abandon him or his cause; he seemed to quite understand that, and expressed his gratitude, but at the same time he is of opinion that he is in his living tomb—'For you may depend upon it,' he said, that after spending so many hundreds of thousands of pounds by the Government to get me here, they never intended to let me out again.'"
  Sir, I must ask the House whether this is not perfectly dreadful? Was it ever contemplated by the Legislature that prisoners sentenced to servitude were to be thus shown covered with sores and ulcers? If the great philanthropist of the last century, Howard, were now alive, and were to visit Dartmoor, in what burning language he would put forth the indignation of his soul at scenes like this! language that would produce such an effect, that the right hon. Gentleman, even with his powerful majority, would have to yield to, and abandon the maintenance of such an institution. With the greatest respect for the right hon. Gentleman, and confidence in his spirit of justice, which I hope is not destroyed by his being a Cabinet Minister, I put it to him, whether he will not, for the sake—for the honour of our common country, in the interests of common humanity also, do something by his Prisons Bill to prevent the possibility of recurrences of this kind. I believe, from all I have heard, that they are substantially true: and I again entreat the right hon. Gentleman to make such provision in his Bill as will effectually prevent its being in the power of bad and cruel-hearted men—for such are sometimes appointed under Governments — to render the life of a prisoner a perfect hell upon earth.
  MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, he hoped the Bill would be in the hands of hon. Members to-morrow morn-

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  ing, or on Monday at the latest. With regard to the question put by the hon. Member for Sheffield (Mr. Mundella), the whole question of prison discipline was carefully discussed in 1865, and certain rules and regulations were then laid down. He had not interfered with the Act of 1865, except to this extent—that whereas at present the very stringent terms of that Act with regard to penal labour could not be relaxed under a period of three months, he had taken power to have them relaxed after one month, if the conduct of the prisoner would warrant such relaxation. With regard to the question of industrial labour interfering with the smaller trades throughout the country, that was a question which had been for some time under his most careful consideration. He had been in communication personally with gentlemen who were well acquainted with the subject, and he hoped to be able to put the matter on a satisfactory footing—at all events, when all the gaols were in one hand—by taking care that the employment was of a sufficiently varied character and by inducing Government to adopt the judicious course of supplying its own wants, as far as possible, by means of prison labour. The making of clothing for the Metropolitan Police had been carried on in some of the prisons with great advantage, and, in connection with labour of this sort, there was the satisfaction of knowing that the prisoners engaged in it were learning a trade which they would be able easily to carry on when they were set at liberty. With regard to what the hon. Member for Stoke (Dr. Kenealy) had said as to the treatment of a particular prisoner, he could only say that no complaint of the kind had ever reached him, and that he did not think it possible such a complaint could be true. With regard to the cell accommodation in convict and county and borough prisons, ho could honestly say that the cells were kept thoroughly warm and well ventilated, and, as far as places of that kind could be, they were comfortable and provided with everything that was necessary. He rather gathered from the hon. Member that Mr. Onslow found fault, not with the cells in which the prisoners were confined, but with the places in which they were allowed to see their friends and those who visited them. Dartmoor, he (Mr. Assheton
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  Cross) was sorry to say, was one of the prisons he had not yet personally visited, and, therefore, he was not able to say what was the fact as to the bars which had been mentioned. He would, however, remind the House that the character of the persons ordinarily confined in convict prisons was such that it was absolutely necessary to have them separated from their visitors in such a manner as to prevent the latter from passing to them tools with which they might effect their escape, or any other articles of an improper character. He would, however, make inquiry as to Dartmoor, and hoped to be able to show that there had been nothing unusual in the treatment of the prisoner mentioned by the hon. Member. The prisoner in question had undoubtedly had the advantage of every medical advice that could be given, and extra food and comforts had been more than once allowed him. He could assure the hon. Member that nothing would induce him (Mr. Assheton Cross) for one moment to allow that particular prisoner, or any prisoner, to be treated in any harsh manner, or in any manner different from that in which other prisoners were treated; and if he found the rules of the prison had been disregarded in that respect the offenders should be visited with his severe displeasure. He would also remind the hon. Member that the visiting justices who would go round to the gaols from time to time would have the fullest opportunity of hearing any complaints which might be made, and of setting matters right if those complaints were well founded. He deeply regretted that he differed from the hon. Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. Newdegate) on this point. The objection of the hon. Member was similar to the one he made to the Act of 1865; but no one who compared the state of the prisons then with their condition now would find that the centralization, which undoubtedly existed under the present law, had produced any evil effect on the country. He relied most confidently upon the assistance of the local visiting justices to carry out the Bill, which ho now asked permission to introduce.
  Motion agreed to.
  Bill to amend the Law relating to Prisons in England, ordered to be brought in by Mr. Secretary CROSS and Sir HENRY SELWIN-IBBETSON.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 1.]

UNIVERSITIES OF OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE BILL.

  LEAVE. FIRST READING.
  MR. GATHORNE HARDY, in moving for leave to bring in a Bill to make further provision respecting the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and the Colleges therein, said, he would not detain the House by entering into the details of the measure. Last year there had been some difficulty in regulating the order of debate in consequence of the desire shown by both Oxford and Cambridge men to address the House on the subject, which was dealt with in two separate measures. To obviate that inconvenience he had deemed it better to combine both Bills in one, and it was in that shape he intended to introduce the proposals of the Government this Session.
  MR. BERESFORD HOPEsaid, that last year he welcomed with great pleasure the fact that the two Universities were treated in two Bills, because, as a Cambridge man, he could not help seeing how that University had often been put at a disadvantage, both in that House and elsewhere, by the idea of dealing with it as a duplicate Oxford. Oxford produced politicians, and Cambridge Judges, and so in Parliament the former was apt to have more than its due influence. It was forgotten that they were independent in their origin, their traditions, their constitution, and their means of working. Because there had been two Bills the claims of the two Universities were, last Session, well put before Parliament. He trusted that any provision affecting either Oxford or Cambridge which might be adopted would not therefore be taken for granted in the case of the other as analogous in its application. With that protest in favour of fair play and of sufficient consideration for the University of Cambridge, he could only now express his fervent hope that as there was considerable discussion last year the House would deal with this Bill with all possible speed.
  MR. OSBORNE MORGANasked whether the Commissioners named in the Bills of last Session were the same as it was now proposed to appoint, and if not, whether the Bill, when printed,
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  would contain the names of the new Commissioners?
  MR. LYON PLAYFAIRwished to know whether, as the House was now informed that there was to be but one Bill, there would be two separate Commissions for the Universities or only one National Commission?
  MR. STAVELEY HILLasked when the Bill would be in the hands of hon. Members?
  MR. GATHORNE HARDY, in reply, trusted that, with the assistance of the Cambridge statesmen and Oxford politicians, both Universities would have their due honour, and that the provisions for the two Universities should be separately maintained, so far as was necessary. With respect to the Commissioners, they would not be altogether the same, but their names would appear in the Bill. There would not be a National Commission, but two separate Commissions, as proposed last year. There had been a little delay in printing the Bill, owing to the absence of Lord Salisbury, and he could not say exactly when it would be ready. He hoped to take the second reading on Monday week.
  Motion agreed to.
  Bill to make further provision respecting the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and the Colleges therein, ordered to be brought in by Mr. Secretary HARDY, Mr. Secretary CROSS, and Mr. WALPOLE.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 2.]

PRISONS (IRELAND) BILL.

  LEAVE. FIRST READING.
  SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, in moving for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Law relating to Prisons in Ireland, said, he should not detain the House by arguing in support of the principle of the measure, but would point out the differences between the proposals he was about to make and those contained in the Bill of his right hon. Friend (Mr. Assheton Cross). Much of the scheme was not new, for an Irish Prison Bill had been brought under the notice of the House by more than one of his Predecessors in office, although they did not go so far in the direction of reform as was now proposed. The idea of the large reform now contemplated originated with the late Lord

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  Mayo, who interested himself greatly in the management of prisons in Ireland, as well as in India. The number of county and borough prisons in Ireland, properly so called, was not so excessive as was the case in England. His right hon. Friend had on previous occasions informed the House of the great number of county and borough prisons in England, and he should follow his example by quoting some figures with respect to Ireland. In Ireland there were in 32 counties 38 county and borough prisons; being one in each county, except Tipperary, in which there were two; two in the city of Dublin, one in Drogheda city, while Cork and Limerick had each a separate city prison. In those 38 prisons he found that there was in 1875 a daily average number of prisoners in custody amounting to 2,741, the net cost of the gaols for the year being £94,658. He thought it would be admitted, even looking at the matter solely as it concerned county and city prisons, that there was great room for the adoption of a more economical and efficient system. They had in Ireland nearly the same difference as in England in the annual cost of maintenance of prisoners in the large and small gaols. He found that in Antrim Gaol, which included Belfast, the annual average cost of each prisoner was £17. In the county of Carlow, with an annual daily average of only 15 prisoners, the average annual cost of each prisoner was £91; in the county of Leitrim, with an average of 20 prisoners, the annual cost was £70; and in the county of the town of Drogheda, with a daily average of 15 prisoners, the annual cost was £34; and in Sligo, with a daily average of 22, the annual cost was £82. In Carlow, to 15 prisoners there were 13 officers, and in Leitrim with 20 prisoners there were 14 officers, and in Sligo 23 prisoners to 14 officers; he could, if necessary, quote further figures, which showed that there was the same room for economy in this matter as in England. In regard to industrial labour, Carlow gaol returned the profit of prison labour as nil; £6 was returned for Leitrim gaol during the last year. Passing from county and city prisons to others which were known only in Ireland, which were called bride-wells, in these the necessity of reform was even more imperative than in the former class of gaols. Bridewells did
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  did not exist in every county. There were as many as five counties in which there was not one. These prisons consisted of three classes—the district, the certified, and the ordinary bridewell; and they were used mainly as places where persons were locked up for a time on remand, but also to a small extent as places for the detention of convicted prisoners. In ordinary bridewells sentenced prisoners might be detained for short periods, not exceeding 48 hours. He could conceive nothing worse than the practice of imprisoning men in these little prisons for such short terms; he doubted the use of any sentence for less than seven days, and he could imagine no reason why men sentenced to imprisonment for seven days and upwards should not be sent to the larger prisons, which were, by means of the railways, brought within a fair distance of every part of Ireland. There might be one or two places in which these smaller prisons might be required, but, as a rule, they were entirely unnecessary, and to detain sentenced prisoners in such places would prevent their punishment from exorcising a proper moral and deterrent effect. In many of these bridewells, owing to a defect in the law as to the appointment of a matron, there was no female official whatever. The female prisoners were, therefore, left to the care of male officers—who, of course, were frequently unmarried—and the abuses which occurred in consequence would easily be imagined. Many of these shorter sentences of 18 hours' imprisonment were imposed for drunkenness, and, in his opinion, they did more harm than good. Anybody who had studied the judicial statistics of Ireland would have noticed with regret the terrible increase of the offence of drunkenness in that country. He was bound to say that, in his opinion, this was not a little owing to the mistaken leniency of the magistrates who frequently imposed infinitesimal fines, and absurdly short and unsatisfactory terms of imprisonment for this offence. But bridewells were mainly used us places of remand, and some local provision for this purpose would still be required. No doubt, in many cases of serious crime, remands, even for lengthened periods, were absolutely necessary. In such case, however, for safe custody as well as for other reasons it was much better that prisoners under remand

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  should be committed to the ordinary prisons. In other cases of short remand, a simple committal to the police cells, as in England, would suffice. Many of the constabulary barracks were already provided with suitable cells, and some of the bridewells might be handed over to the constabulary and utilized for this purpose. He proposed by a clause in the Bill to secure that any county in which "lock-up" accommodation of this kind was deficient should provide such accommodation at its own expense. This provision was based on a similar principle to that in the English Bill, that counties and boroughs in which sufficient accommodation for their prisoners was not provided should pay so much per cell for their prisoners. The main point of difference between this and the English Bill was one in regard to which he might suggest, that the Irish measure would be more complete, simple, and satisfactory than the English Bill: though from the larger population and greater number of gaols and prisoners in England a similar arrangement would probably not be practicable there. In Ireland at present the convict prisons were managed by what was legally a Board, but all the power was really vested in a single Director. A former Act gave the power to appoint as many as three Directors of Convict Prisons; but some years ago the Government, looking to the number of convicts and the work to be done, reduced the number of Directors from three to one. Circumstances, however, might arise, such as, for instance, the transfer of the convicts at present located at Spiko Island to places better adapted for them, which would impose far greater labour and responsibility upon one Director than a single individual could properly and adequately perform. For many reasons, indeed, the management of the prisons ought not to be entirely left to one individual, and he should propose to vest the convict prisons and the ordinary prisons in a single Board, subject to the control of the Lord Lieutenant, who would be represented in the House of Commons by his Chief Secretary. Besides the three Directors of Convict Prisons and the two Inspectors-General of County Prisons there were two other offices legally existing in Ireland—the Inspectorship of Industrial and Reformatory Schools, and the Registrarship of Habitual Criminals;
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  but the duties of the first office were now performed by one of the Inspectors-General of County Prisons, and those of the second by the Director of Convict Prisons. The powers exercised by these officers would also be vested in the Prisons Board, and thus the whole prison system of the country, including the Industrial and Reformatory Schools, would be vested in one Board. He believed that the economy, uniformity, and simplicity which would be secured by the Bill would commend the measure to the approval of Parliament. In addition to the differences which he had stated, there were some minor alterations which would be proposed in the Irish Prison Law, mainly in the direction of assimilating it with that of England. He would add that the Bill of last year contained no limitation of the power given to the Lord Lieutenant to close all prisons in a county. He now proposed to place some check on that power by requiring that in cases where the Lord Lieutenant might issue an Order to close the only prison in any county, the Order should be laid before Parliament within a certain period. He had now gone through the principal features of the measure, and he had only to thank the House for the attention which it had given to his explanation, and to move for leave to bring in the Bill.
  MR. O'REILLYwas of opinion that it was indispensable to secure the Industrial Schools from being brought under the management of the Prisons Board. Schools of such a nature ought not to be associated with the management of a Prisons Board, and any connection with the prisons would necessarily attach a certain amount of discredit to them.
  Motion agreed to.
  Bill to amend the Law relating to Prisons in Ireland, ordered to be brought in by Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH and Mr. SOLICITOR GENERAL for IRELAND.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 3.]

PRISONS (SCOTLAND) BILL.

  LEAVE. FIRST READING.
  THE LORD ADVOCATE, in rising to move for leave to bring in a Bill for amending the Law relating to Prisons in Scotland, said: The principles of the Bill are the same as those on which the

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  measures relative to England and Ireland have been framed, and therefore I need not occupy the time of the House on that subject. We have been reducing the number of our prisons in Scotland very greatly of late years. Thirty years since we had 200 of those institutions, and they have been reduced to 56, of which 55 are managed by Local Boards. There are still a great deal too many of these local prisons. Some at times are nearly empty; others contain a population of not more than from five to ten at a time; and I believe the result of this measure would be to reduce the number very considerably, and to promote very largely economy and efficiency in the maintenance of those establishments. Since 1860, the date of our General Act, the local prisons of Scotland have been exclusively managed under rules framed by the Secretary of State, and the system so arranged has given great satisfaction. That system will be virtually continued. The Act of 1860 has been amended no fewer than three times by Acts of Parliament, and I may explain, in conclusion, that in framing this Bill we have endeavoured to bring the whole legislation in regard to prisons in Scotland within the compass of one statute.
  Motion agreed to.
  Bill to amend the Law relating to Prisons in Scotland, ordered to be brought in by The LORD ADVOCATE and Mr. Secretary CROSS.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 4.]

JUSTICES OF PEACE, &c. (CLERKS' FEES.)

  LEAVE. FIRST READING.
  SIR HENRY SELWIN-IBBETSON, in rising to move for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Law with respect to the Appointment, Payment, and Fees of Clerks of Justices of the Peace and Clerks of Special and Petty Sessions, said, that as far back as 1851 the question and the payment of these clerks by fees instead of salaries was raised, and a clause was passed enabling localities to adopt that mode of payment. The change was obviously desirable in many cases in which the fees were far in excess of the penalty inflicted, or intended to be inflicted, by the magistrates, and where this was the case people got an idea that the magistrates were urged to convict
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  by the clerks for the sake of their own profit. More recently, and particularly in 1872, attempts were made to render compulsory the payment of clerks by salary, and almost all the resistance they met with was due to differences of opinion about uniformity of fees, which, however desirable, was practically impossible. The salaries of the clerks to the Justices were often in excess of the fees received in their districts, and the Bill was framed to meet the inevitable differences between rural and populous districts, and would call upon some localities to submit fresh tables of fees to the Home Secretary.
  Motion agreed to.
  Bill to amend the Law with respect to the Appointment, Payment, and Fees of Clerks of Justices of the Peace and Clerks of Special and Petty Sessions, ordered to be brought in by Sir HENRY SELWIN-IBBETSON and Mr. Secretary CROSS.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 5.]

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
Resolved, That whenever notice has been given that Estimates will be moved in Committee of Supply and the Committee stands as the first Order of the Day upon any day except Thursday and Friday, on which Government Orders have precedence, the Speaker shall, when the Order for the Committee has been, read, forthwith leave the Chair without putting any Question, and the House shall thereupon resolve itself into such Committee, unless on going into Committee on the Army, Navy, or Civil Service Estimates respectively, an Amendment be moved relating to the division of Estimates proposed to be considered on that day.—(Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer.)

COMMITTEE ON PRINTING.
MR. W. H. SMITHmoved that the Select Committee to assist Mr. Speaker in all matters which relate to the Printing executed by Order of this House, and for the purpose of selecting and arranging for Printing, Returns and Papers presented in pursuance of Motions made by Members of this House, do consist of—Mr. Spencer Walpole, Mr. Henley, The O'Conor Don, Mr. Hunt, Mr. Stansfold, Mr. Sclater-Booth, Mr. Dodson, Mr. "Massey, Mr. Whitbread, and Mr. William Henry Smith.
MR. BUTTcomplained of the constitution of the Committee, and regretted that the practice of excluding Irish Members from the composition of Committees of the House was to be con-

151
tinued. He contended that it was desirable that every Committee should represent each section of the House. He was by no means satisfied with the composition of this Committee, and he hoped the hon. Gentleman would postpone his Motion for a day or two, for he should like to have a short conversation with him in private, in order that a satisfactory arrangement might be come to on this point.
MR. W. H. SMITHsaid, he had no objection to postpone the nomination of the Committee if it was the desire of the hon. and learned Member, but he would remind him that the names of the hon. Members whom he proposed wore names that had been on the Committee for more than one Parliament, and their duties were almost nominal.
Motion postponed.

SUMMARY PROSECUTIONS BILL.

  LEAVE. FIRST READING.
  MR. HOPWOOD, in moving for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Law relating to Summary Procedure before Justices; to extend the right of Appeal in certain cases; and for other purposes, said, the Bill proposed to deal with a great number of unnecessary committals to prison which were forced on magistrates by the present law. About one-third of the 90,000 persons now imprisoned were committed, not because they had committed crime, but because they were unable to pay fines. If the magistrates could grant them indulgence and allow them to pay fines by instalments, that would in many cases prevent the inflicting imprisonment. The Bill would also provide that in all cases of committal to gaol there should be an appeal to a superior Court, and abolish the right of the magistrate to commit for longer periods than six months on a cumulative series of convictions. It would also afford some relief to persons who were kept in prison for want of bail and sureties.
  MR. ASSHETON CROSSsaid, that he would not oppose the introduction of the Bill, but he had stated last year that it was the intention of the Government to introduce a Bill dealing with this subject. The question was also mentioned in the Queen's Speech, but to that circumstance the hon. and learned Member had not adverted. He (Mr. Cross)
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  hoped that at any rate the hon. and learned Member would not proceed with the second reading of the Bill until after the introduction of the Government measure.
  Motion agreed to.
  Bill to amend the Law relating to Summary Procedure before Justices; to extend the right of Appeal in certain cases; and for other purposes, ordered to be brought in by Mr. HOPWOOD, Mr. MUNDELLA, and Mr. BURT.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 9.]

  STANDING ORDERS.
  Select Committee on Standing Orders nominated:—Mr. BRUEN, Sir EDWARD COLEBROOKE, Mr. CUBITT, Mr. FLOYER, Mr. THOMSON HANKEY, Mr. HOWARD, Sir GRAHAM MONTGOMERY, Mr. MOWBRAY, The O'CONOR DON, Mr. RODWELL, and Mr. WHITBREAD.
  SELECTION.
  Committee of Selection nominated: — Mr. FLOYER, Mr. THOMSON HANKEY, Sir GRAHAM MONTGOMERY, The O'CONOR DON, Mr. WHITBREAD, and the Chairman of the Select Committee on Standing Orders.

  PRINTING.
  Select Committee appointed, "to assist Mr. Speaker in all matters which relate to the Printing executed by Order of this House, and for the purpose of selecting and arranging for Printing, Returns and Papers presented in pursuance of Motions made by Members of this House."—(Mr. William Henry Smith.)
  And, on February 12, Committee nominated as follows:—Mr. SPENCER WALPOLE, Mr. HENLEY, The O'CONOR DON, Mr. HUNT, Mr. STANSFELD, Mr. SCLATER-BOOTH, Mr. DODSON, Mr. MASSEY, Mr. WHITBREAD, Mr. MITCHELL HENRY, Mr. M'LAREN, and Mr. WILLIAM HENRY SMITH:—Three to be the quorum.

  VOLUNTEER CORPS (IRELAND) BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. O'CLERY, Bill to authorise the enrolment of Volunteer Corps in Ireland, established on the principle and subject to the regulations controlling the various Corps at present existing throughout Great Britain and the Colonies, ordered to be brought in by Mr. O'CLERY, Captain NOLAN, and Lord FRANCIS CONYNGHAM.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 6.]

  CRUELTY TO ANIMALS BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. HOLT, Bill for the more effectual prevention of Cruelty to Animals, ordered to be brought in by Mr. HOLT, Mr. HARDCASTLE, and Mr. CHARLES WILSON.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 7.]

  NEWSPAPERS REGISTRATION BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. WADDY, Bill to provide for the Registration of Newspapers, and to amend the Law relating to Libels therein, ordered to be brought in by Mr. WADDY, Sir CHARLES RUSSELL, and Mr. COLE.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 8.]

  TERRITORIAL WATERS JURISDICTION BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. GORST, Bill to declare that the power and jurisdiction of Her Majesty extend to a distance of three miles seawards from the Sea Coasts of Her Dominions, and to make better provision for the administration of Justice, ordered to be brought in by Mr. GORST, Mr. RITCHIE, and Sir HENRY WOLFF.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 10.]

  TOWN COUNCILS AND LOCAL BOARDS BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. MUNDELLA, Bill to amend the Law relating to the qualification for Members of Town Councils and Local Boards, ordered to be brought in by Mr. MUNDELLA, Mr. CHAMBERLAIN, Mr. BURT, and Mr. MORLEY.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 11.]

  ECCLESIASTICAL OFFICES AND FEES BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. COWPER-TEMPLE, Bill to reform certain Ecclesiastical Offices and to regulate Ecclesiastical Fees, ordered to be brought in by Mr. COWPER-TEMPLE and Mr. RUSSELL GURNEY.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 12.]

  INTOXICATING LIQUORS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
  Considered in Committee.
  (In the Committee.)
  Resolved, That the Chairman be directed to move the House, that leave be given to bring in a Bill to amend the Law relating to the sale by retail of Intoxicating Liquors in Scotland.
  Resolution reported — Bill ordered to be brought in by Sir ROBERT ANSTRUTHER, Dr. CAMERON, Mr. DALRYMPLE, Mr. MAITLAND, and Mr. JENKINS.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 13.]

  ENTAILS AND SETTLEMENTS LIMITATION BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. SHAW LEFEVRE, Bill to restrict the power of Entailing and Settling Land and other Property, ordered to be brought in by Mr. SHAW LEFEVRE, Mr. BEAUMONT, Mr. OSBORNE MORGAN, Mr. HERSCHELL, and Mr. GOLDSMID.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 14.]

  PARLIAMENTARY REGISTRATION (IRELAND) BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. MITCHELL HENRY, Bill to amend the Law relating to the Registration of Parliamentary Voters in Ireland; to facilitate the obtaining the franchise by persons entitled; and for other purposes, ordered to be brought in by Mr. MITCHELL HENRY and Mr. MELDON.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 15.]

  ANCIENT MONUMENTS BILL.
  On Motion of Sir JOHN LUBBOCK, Bill to provide for the protection of Ancient Monuments, ordered to be brought in by Sir JOHN LUBBOCK, Mr. BERESEORD HOPE, Mr. RUSSELL GURNEY, and Mr. OSBORNE MORGAN.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 16.]

  WOMEN'S DISABILITIES REMOVAL BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. JACOB BRIGHT, Bill to remove the Electoral Disabilities of Women, ordered to be brought in by Mr. JACOB BRIGHT, Sir ROBERT ANSTRUTHER, Mr. RUSSELL GURNEY, and Mr. STANSFELD.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 17.]

  METROPOLIS TOLL BRIDGES BILL.
  On Motion of Sir JAMES HOGG, Bill to provide for throwing open for the free use of the public certain Toll Bridges within the Metropolis, ordered to be brought in by Sir JAMES HOGG, Sir CHARLES RUSSELL, Sir HENRY PEEK, Sir TREVOR LAWRENCE, Mr. Alderman M'ARTHUR, and Mr. FORSYTH.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 18.]

  FRANCHISE EXTENSION (IRELAND) BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. BIGGAR, Bill for the Extension of the Franchise in Ireland, ordered to be brought in by Mr. BIGGAR, Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSY, Mr. O'GORMAN, Mr. RICHARD POWER, and Mr. PARNELL.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 19.]

  THESHING MACHINES BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. CHAPLIN, Bill for the Prevention of Accidents by Threshing Machines, ordered to be brought in by Mr. CHAPLIN and Mr. CLARE READ.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 20.]

  LAND TENURE (IRELAND) BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. BUTT, Bill to amend the Laws relating to the Tenure of Land in Ireland, ordered to be brought in by Mr. BUTT, Mr. DOWNING, Mr. RICHARD SMYTH, Mr. MELDON, and Mr. ENNIS.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 21.]

  LOCOMOTIVES ON COMMON ROADS BILL.
  On Motion of Colonel CHAPLIN, Bill for regulating the use of Locomotives on Common Roads, and for consolidating the various Statutes relating thereto, ordered to be brought in by Colonel CHAPLIN, Mr. CHARLES PRAED, and Mr. SAMUELSON.
  Bill presented, and road the first time. [Bill 22.]

  HOUSE OCCUPIERS DISQUALIFICATION REMOVAL BILL.
  On Motion of Sir HENRY WOLFF, Bill to relieve certain Occupiers of Dwelling Houses from being Disqualified from the right of Voting in the Election of Members to serve in Parliament by reason of their underletting such Dwelling

  155
  Houses for short terms, ordered to be brought in by Sir HENRY WOLFF, Sir CHARLES RUSSELL, Sir CHARLES LEGARD, Mr. ONSLOW, and Mr. RYDER.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 23.]

  INTOXICATING LIQUORS (LICENSING BOARDS) BILL.
  Considered in Committee.
  (In the Committee.)
  Resolved, That the Chairman be directed to move the House, that leave be given to bring in a Bill to provide for the Election of Boards for granting Licences for the Sale of Intoxicating Drinks.
  Resolution reported: — Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. JOSEPH COWEN, Sir HENRY HAVELOCK, Mr. NORWOOD, Mr. BURT, and Mr. ERNEST NOEL.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 24.]

  GAME LAWS (SCOTLAND) AMENDMENT BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. M'LAGAN, Bill to amend the Laws relating to Game in Scotland, ordered to be brought in by Mr. M'LAGAN, Sir WILLIAM STIRLING MAXWELL, Sir EDWARD COLEBROOKE, and Mr. JOHN MAITLAND.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 25.]

  CROSSED CHEQUES ON BANKERS BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. HUBBARD, Bill to amend the Law relating to Crossed Cheques on Bankers, ordered to be brought in by Mr. HUBBARD, Mr. GOSCHEN, Mr. Alderman COTTON, and Mr. TWELLS.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 26.]

  PLUMSTEAD COMMON PRESERVATION BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. BOORD, Bill for the preservation of Plumstead Common, ordered to be brought in by Mr. BOORD, Sir CHARLES MILLS, Sir CHARLES DILKE, and Mr. GOLDSMID.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 27.]

  UNION JUSTICES (IRELAND) BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. O'SULLIVAN, Bill for the better administration of justice at Petty Sessions Courts in Ireland, ordered to be brought in by Mr. O'SULLIVAN, Captain NOLAN, Mr. RICHARD POWER, and Mr. O'BYRNE.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 28.]

  COLONIAL MARRIAGES BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. KNATCHRULL-HUGESSEN, Bill to declare Legal in the United Kingdom certain Colonial Marriages which are Legal in the Colonies by Acts of the several Legislatures, sanctioned by the Crown, ordered to be brought in by Mr. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN, Mr. RUSSELL GURNEY, and Sir THOMAS CHAMBERS.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 29.]

  CHURCH RATES ABOLITION (SCOTLAND) BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. M'LAREN, Bill to abolish Church Rates in Scotland, ordered to be brought in by Mr. M'LAREN, Dr. CAMERON, Mr. BAXTER, Mr. TREVELYAN, Mr. GRIEVE, Mr. LAING, and Sir GEORGE BALFOUR.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 30.]

  BANNS OF MARRIAGE (SCOTLAND) BILL.
  On Motion of Dr. CAMERON, Bill to abolish the system of proclaiming Banns of Marriage presently in force in Scotland, and to make better provision for the due publication of such Banns in Scotland, ordered to be brought in by Dr. CAMERON, Mr. BAXTER, Mr. BARCLAY, Mr. M'LAREN, Mr. EDWARD JENKINS, and Mr. ERNEST NOEL.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 31.]

  HYPOTHEC (SCOTLAND) BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. AGNEW, Bill to abolish the Landlord's right of Hypothec in Scotland as far as relates to Agricultural subjects, ordered to be brought in by Mr. AGNEW, Sir WILLIAM STIRLING MAXWELL, Mr. BAILLIE HAMILTON, and Sir GEORGE DOUGLAS.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 32.]

  UNION RATING (IRELAND) BILL.
  On Motion of Sir JOSEPH M'KENNA, Bill to amend the Law in relation to Union Rating in Ireland, ordered to be brought in by Sir JOSEPH M'KENNA, Mr. COLLINS, Mr. O'CLERY, and Dr. WARD.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 33.]

  LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN TOWNS (IRELAND) BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. BRUEN, Bill to reform and assimilate the systems of Local Government in force in towns in Ireland, ordered to be brought in by Mr. BRUEN and Sir ARTHUR GUINNESS.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 34.]

  CONGE D'ELIRE BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. MONK, Bill to abolish the Congé d'élire and to make provision for the appointment and consecration of Archbishops and Bishops in England and Wales, ordered to be brought in by Mr. MONK, Mr. FORSYTH, Sir THOMAS CHAMBERS, and Mr. ASHLEY.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 35.]

  BURIALS BILL.
  Considered in Committee.
  (In the Committee.)
  Resolved, That the Chairman be directed to move the House, that leave be given to bring in a Bill to amend the Burial Laws.
  Resolution reported: — Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. OSBORNE MORGAN, Mr. SHAW LEFEVRE, Mr. Alderman M'ARTHUR, and Mr. RICHARD.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 36.]

  INTOXICATING LIQUORS (IRELAND) BILL.
  Considered in Committee.
  (In the Committee.)
  Resolved, That the Chairman be directed to move the House, that leave be given to bring in a Bill for the Regulation of the Sale of Intoxicating Liquors in Ireland.
  Resolution reported: —Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. SULLIVAN and Mr. DEASE. Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 37.]

  REGISTRATION OF BOROUGH VOTERS BILL.
  On Motion of Sir CHARLES DILKE, Bill to amend the Law with respect to the Registration of Borough Voters in England and Wales, ordered to be brought in by Sir CHARLES DILKF, Mr. RATHBONE, and Mr. BOORD.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 38.]

  EMPLOYERS AND WORKMEN ACT (EXTENSION TO SEAMEN) BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. BURT, Bill to extend the provisions of "The Employers and Workmen Act, 1875," to seamen whilst they are in British waters, ordered to be brought in by Mr. BURT, Mr. JOSEPH COWEN, Mr. MUNDELLA, Dr. CAMERON, and Mr. GOURLEY.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 39.]

  REAL ESTATE OF INTESTATES BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. POTTER, Bill for the better settling the Real Estates of Intestates, ordered to be brought in by Mr. POTTER, Mr. LEATHAM, Mr. HOPWOOD, Mr. PRICE, and Sir WILFRID LAWSON.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 40.]

  MARRIED WOMEN'S PROPERTY (SCOTLAND) BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. ANDERSON, Bill for the Protection of the Property of Married Women in Scotland, ordered to be brought in by Mr. ANDERSON, Sir ROBERT ANSTRUTHER, Mr. M'LAREN, and Mr. ORR EWING.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 41.]

  PERMISSIVE PROHIBITORY LIQUOR BILL.
  Considered in Committee.
  (In the Committee.)
  Resolved, That the Chairman be directed to move the House, that leave be given to bring in a Bill to enable Owners and Occupiers of Property in certain districts to prevent the common sale of Intoxicating Liquors within such districts.
  Resolution reported: — Bill ordered to be brought in by Sir WILFRID LAWSON, Sir THOMAS BAZLEY, Mr. DOWNING, Mr. RICHARD, Mr. WILLIAM JOHNSTON, Dr. CAMERON, and Mr. DALWAY.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 42.]

  LEGAL PRACTITIONERS BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. WILLIAM GORDON, Bill to amend the Law relating to Legal Practitioners, ordered to be brought in by Mr. WILLIAM GORDON and Mr. CHARLEY.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 43.]

  SEA FISHERIES (IRELAND) BILL.
  On Motion of Dr. WARD, Bill for the regulation and encouragement of the Coast and Deep Sea Fisheries of Ireland, ordered to be brought in by Dr. WARD, Mr. BUTT, Mr. COLLINS, and Sir JOSEPH M'KENNA.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 44.]

  COMPANIES ACTS AMENDNENT BILL.
  Considered in Committee.
  (in the Committee.)
  Resolved, That the Chairman be directed to move the House, that leave be given to bring in a Bill to amend the Companies Acts 1862 and 1867.
  Resolution reported: — Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. CHADWICK, Sir HENRY JACKSON, Mr. SAMPSON LLOYD, Mr. RYLANDS, Mr. HOPWOOD, and Mr. BENJAMIN WHITWORTH.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 45.]

  POOR LAW GUARDIANS ELECTIONS (IRELAND) BILL.
  On Motion of Sir COLMAN O'LOGHLEN, Bill to provide for the election by ballot of Poor Law Guardians in Ireland, ordered to be brought in by Sir COLMAN O'LOGHLEN, Mr. CALLAN, Mr. MAURICE BROOKS, and Mr. DOWNING.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 46.]

  DIVINE WORSHIP FACILITIES BILL.
  Considered in Committee.
  (In the Committee.)
  Resolved, That the Chairman be directed to move the House, that leave be given to bring in a Bill to provide further facilities for the performance of Divine Worship according to the rites of the Church of England.
  Resolution reported: — Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. WILBRAHAM EGERTON, Mr. BIRLEY, Mr. WHITWELL, and Mr. RODWELL.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 47.]

  IRISH CHURCH ACTS AMENDMENT BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. PARNELL, Bill to further amend the Irish Church Act Amendment Act, ordered to be brought in by Mr. PARNELL and Mr. FAY.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 48.]

  IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT ABOLITION BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. BASS, Bill to abolish Imprisonment for Debt, ordered to be brought in by Mr. BASS, Mr. FIELDEN, Mr. COBBETT, Mr. ANDERSON, and Mr. KNOWLES.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 49.]

  SALE OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS ON SUNDAY (IRELAND) BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. RICHARD SMYTH, Bill to prohibit the Sale of Intoxicating Liquors on Sunday in Ireland, ordered to be brought in by Mr. RICHARD SMYTH, The O'CONOR DON, Mr. CHARLES LEWIS, Mr. JAMES CORRY, Mr. WILLIAM JOHNSTON, Mr. DEASE, Mr. DICKSON, and Mr. REDMOND.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 50.]

  LANDLORD AND TENANT (IRELAND) ACT (1870) AMENDMENT BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. CRAWFORD, Bill to amend "The Landlord and Tenant (Ireland) Act, 1870," ordered to be brought in by Mr. CRAW-FORD, Mr. RICHARD SMYTH, Mr. DICKSON, and Mr. DANIEL TAYLOR.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 51.]

  MONASTIC AND CONVENTUAL INSTITUTIONS BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. NEWDEGATE, Bill for appointing Commissioners to inquire respecting Monastic and Conventual Institutions in Great Britain; and for other purposes connected therewith, ordered to be brought in by Mr. NEWDEGATE, Sir THOMAS CHAMBERS, and Mr. HOLT.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 52.]

  PARLIAMENTARY ELECTORS REGISTRATION BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. BOORD, Bill to amend the Law relating to the Registration of Parliamentary Electors, ordered to be brought in by Mr. BOORD, Sir CHARLES DILKE, and Mr. GRANTHAM. Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 53.]

  RACECOURSES (LICENSING) BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. ANDERSON, Bill for licensing Racecourses, ordered to be brought in by Mr. ANDERSON, Sir JAMES LAWRENCE, and Sir THOMAS CHAMBERS.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 54.]

  UNIVERSITY EDUCATION (IRELAND) BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. BUTT, Bill to make better provision for University Education in Ireland, ordered to be brought in by Mr. BUTT, The O'CONOR DON, Mr. MITCHELL HENRY, Mr. MACCARTHY, and Mr. SULLIVAN.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill, 55.]

  TENANT RIGHT (IRELAND) BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. RICHARD SMYTH, Bill to legalise Tenant Right at the end of a Lease in Ireland, ordered to be brought in by Mr. RICHARD SMYTH, Mr. MACARTNEY, Mr. CRAWFORD, and Mr. DICKSON.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 56.]

  BEERHOUSES, &c. (IRELAND) BILL.
  Considered in Committee.
  (In the Committee.)
  Resolved, That the Chairman be directed to move the House, that leave be given to bring in a Bill for the better regulation of Beerhouses in Ireland, and to amend the Law relating to the granting of Licences for Beerhouses.
  Resolution reported: — Bill ordered to bo brought in by Mr. MELDON, Mr. CHARLES LEWIS, and Mr. WHITWORTH.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 57.]

  AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS (IRELAND) BILL.
  On Motion of Sir COLMAN O'LOGIILEN, Bill to protect Agricultural Tenants in Ireland from capricious eviction, and to enable them in certain cases to acquire security of tenure, ordered to be brought in by Sir COLMAN O'LOGHLEN and Lord FRANCIS CONYNGHAM.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 58.]

  PARLIAMENTARY AND MUNICIPAL REGISTRATION BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. MARTEN, Bill to amend the Law relating to Parliamentary and Municipal Registration in certain Boroughs, ordered to be brought in by Mr. MARTEN, Mr. TORR, and Mr. DODDS.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 59.]

  FORFEITURE RELIEF BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. MARTEN, Bill to amend the Law of Relief against Forfeiture for breach of covenant or condition, ordered to be brought in by Mr. MARTEN, Mr. OSBORNE MORGAN, and Mr. GREGORY.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 60.]

  SETTLED ESTATES BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. MARTEN, Bill to consolidate and amend the Law relating to Leases and Sales of Settled Estates, ordered to be brought in by Mr. MARTEN, Sir HENRY JACKSON, and Mr. GREGORY.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 61.]

  OPEN SPACES (METROPOLIS) BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. WHALLEY, Bill for affording facilities for the enjoyment by the public of Open Spaces in the Metropolis, ordered to be brought in by Mr. WHALLEY, Mr. MORGAN LLOYD, and Sir GEORGE BOWYER.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 62.]
  House adjourned at a quarter before Eight o'clock till Monday next.