Sitting of 2 August 1858

NATIONAL GALLERY—QUESTION.
MR. T. DUNCOMBEsaid, he would beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has succeeded in carrying out arrangements for opening the National Gallery on Saturday afternoons?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, he had great pleasure in informing the hon. Gentleman that he had succeeded in accomplishing that object. He was bound at the same time to say that he bad received from Sir Charles Eastlake great assistance and sympathy in making the arrangements; and after some short time, which must necessarily elapse before the arrangements could be made complete, the National Gallery would be open on Saturday afternoons.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.—QUESTION.
MR. JOHN LOCKEsaid, he rose to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Copies of Standards of Weights and Measures were issued from the Exchequer under which 1,555 tradesmen have been convicted by the Police for using false Weights and Measures in 1857, and whether the accuracy of the said Copies of Standards have been legally tested since they were first issued; and, it so, at what period? And, whether the Police Constables now engaged as Inspectors of Weights and Measures are authorized to seize all Weights and Measures indiscriminately under the Act 5 & 6 Will. IV. c. 63, which deviate from the Standards, or whether they are instructed to distinguish between cases of intentional fraud and trifling inaccuracies arising from friction, atmospheric influence, or ordinary wear and tear?
MR. WALPOLEsaid, he was sorry to say that he had not yet been able to obtain the desired information; but as the matter was of considerable importance he would take care that due inquiry should be made respecting it, and if any alteration should be required to have the Standards properly
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rectified he would take care that it should be made.

GENERAL CHESNEY'S WORK.

  QUESTION.
  MR. WILSONsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the sum voted in the present year in aid of the expenses in bringing out General Chesney's work is to be given with the understanding that the work is to be completed; and, also, whether the East India Company have contributed any sum for the same purpose? In putting this question, he wished to observe that £6,000 had already been paid for what was only a more preface, and that but one volume had as yet been published, which contained, not useful matter with regard to the exploration of the East, but was a more history of commerce.
  MR. G. A. HAMILTONsaid, he could not at present give the hon. Gentleman the assurance he required, because the Government had not yet considered the expediency of publishing the remainder of the work. His own impression was, that three volumes had been published. The arrangement with General Chesney, upon which £4,000 had been voted by that House, and £1,000 by the East India Company, was that, in time first place, the copies of the work were to be at the disposal of the Government; next, that the materials for its completion were also to be at the disposal of the Government; and, thirdly, that General Chesney should, without any charge, edit the remainder, when the Government thought it expedient that it should be completed.
  MR. WHITEsaid, he wished to point out that as he had been the first to mention this subject, that two volumes had been published, the first of which contained, he believed, a history of the world, and the other a history of Asia, mixed up with every variety of matter. There were two more volumes yet to be published to complete the work.

  THE PARKS. —QUESTION.
  VISCOUNT PALMERSTONsaid he wished to ask a question of the noble Lord the Chief Commissioner of Works, of width he had not given notice; but as it related to a matter respecting which he had had private communication with the noble Lord some time ago, he had no doubt the noble Lord would be able to give him an answer one way or the other. He would like to know when it was the intention of the noble Lord to remove those abominable iron

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  hurdles which now disfigured the parks, and prevented the people of the metropolis from the free enjoyment of them, although they were maintained at the public expense simply for the public recreation. His right hon. Friend the late Chief Commissioner had assured him that they would be removed last spring, and he had understood from the noble Lord (Lord J. Manners) that he also intended to remove them. But there they are still, and there they appeared likely to remain, so far as he could see, until the iron had disappeared by the process of time. Meanwhile the public are precluded from that power of free expatiation over their own parks which is essential to their health and amusement. Perhaps the noble Lord will say that the object of those hurdles is to prevent the people from walking over the grass; but he (Viscount Palmerston) did not know for what purpose the grass was there, except to be walked upon. If it were to be kept for the purpose of being looked at only, it ceased to have the advantage it was intended to confer upon the population. He wished to know, therefore, when the noble Lord intends taking the people of the metropolis out of irons, so far as related to the parks.
  LORD JOHN MANNERSsaid, that having completed the removal of the hurdles from the whole of Hyde Park, the question of the noble Viscount must refer chiefly to the Green Park. It had been his intention to remove all the hurdles from that park also; but, unfortunately, as the noble Viscount was doubtless aware, there came a plague of obnoxious insects early in the spring which destroyed the grass in a very extraordinary manner, and in consequence it became necessary to enclose within iron hurdles all that portion of the park which had been so injured. He had great hopes, however, that the grass would soon recover; and he trusted that the noble Viscount would take the removal of the hurdles from Hyde Park as an earnest of his (Lord John Manners') desire to remove them also from the Green Park.

OUR RELATIONS WITH NAPLES.

  QUESTION.
  MR. T. DUNCOMBEsaid, he wished to ask a question of the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and for the purpose of doing so in order would move the adjournment of the House, if that were necessary. Nearly two years
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  ago the Government of this country broke off diplomatic relations with the Government of Naples; and the question he now begged to ask was, whether any change has taken place, or is likely to take place, in our relations with that country? The breaking off of those diplomatic relations arose out of the barbarities which were committed in the prisons of the Neapolitan dominions towards political offenders. The imprisonment and torture, he was sorry to say, continued, and those dungeons were still full of persons who were undergoing all the barbarities which were the usual accompaniments of incarceration in an Italian prison. The question, he thought, was a most appropriate one to be put at the present moment, and the House ought not to separate for the recess without receiving some reply. The Sovereigns of England and France were about to meet in a day or two. Her Majesty would be surrounded by Peers and Commoners, and attended by very many of her faithful subjects, and he did think that a whisper or a word on the occasion from Her Majesty's lips might suggest to the Monarch of France that in the midst of all the festivities and congratulations they should not altogether forget the wrongs of Italy. The utterance of such a sentiment would, he believed, he highly acceptable to the Emperor of the French, because it was well known, at all events, he (Mr. Duncombe) had reason to know, from what had recently been communicated to him, that during the Russian war the Emperor of the French, to his honour, suggested that the restoration of Poland and the independence of Italy should form part of any general scheme for the settlement of peace. That proposal, however, he was given to understand, was ignominiously rejected by the Government of England; but be that as it might, he believed that the reproach which was sometimes levelled against Englishmen, that they were very fond of constitutional freedom and liberty at home, but that they sided with despotism abroad, was but too true. The question he had to put to the right hon. Gentleman, therefore, was whether any change has taken place, or is likely to take place, with regard to our relations with the Government of Naples?
  THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: Sir, I did not collect from the observations of the hon. Gentleman whether he thinks that the revival of diplomatic relations with Naples would be a

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  proof of our sympathy with despotism abroad, or the reverse, though the inference from his observations may be taken either way. I think, however, all must feel that to terminate diplomatic relations between two States is always an extremely inconvenient and injurious course, and one that can only be justified by very strong reasons indeed. With regard to the case of Naples, perhaps a great deal of what has occurred, and which has very much interested this House of late, between the King of the Two Sicilies and this country, might not have occurred had Her Majesty been directly represented at that Court. But it is unnecessary now to speculate upon those circumstances. I am bound to say that the late negotiations between England and Naples, which were of an extraordinary character, and occasioned by a remarkable event—I allude to the seizure of the Cagliari—were certainly conducted in a manner which was satisfactory to this country, and, at the same time, not at all, I think, to the discredit of the Neapolitan Government. Whether those relations which subsisted heretofore will soon he revived it is impossible for me at the present moment to state, No doubt it is extremely desirable that there should be direct communications between this Government and the Neapolitan Government; and I trust that whenever those communications are restored, they will be restored under circumstances which will be generally satisfactory to the people of this country.

  HARBOURS OF REFUGE.—REPLY TO ADDRESS.
  MR. WALPOLEappeared at the Bar, and read the following reply from the Queen to an Address from the House for the issue of a Royal Commission relative to Harbours of Refuge in the Report of a Select Committee of this House upon Harbours of Refuge.
  Answer to Address [26th July] reported, as follows:—
  I have received your Address, praying that I will give directions for the appointment of a Royal Commission to complete the Inquiry in the terms recommended in
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  the Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons, in the present Session, on Harbours of Refuge.
  And I have given directions that a Royal Commission shall issue for the purpose which you have requested.

MILITARY OPERATIONS IN CHINA.

  QUESTION.
  MR. WHITEsaid, he would beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is in possession of any further information relative to proceedings in China which would encourage the hope of such a satisfactory result as is referred to by Lord Elgin in his address to the merchants of Shanghai?
  THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, that the latest accounts received front China were of a satisfactory character; and, if they did not tend to encourage a hope of the immediate conclusion of difficulties, justified him in believing that increased activity in that quarter would lead to the result which the hon. Gentleman desired.

PROROGATION OF THE PARLIAMENT.
Message to attend the LORDS COMMISSIONERS.
The House went, and the ROYAL ASSENT was given to several Bills. And afterwards a Speech of the LORDS COMMISSIONERS was delivered to both Houses by the LORD CHANCELLOR.
Then a Commission for Proroguing the Parliament was read.
After which
THE LORD CHANCELLORsaid:
"MY LORDS, AND GENTLEMEN,
"By virtue of Her Majesty's Commission, under the great Seal, to us and other Lords directed, and now read, we do, in Her Majesty's Name, and in obedience to Her Commands. Prorogue this Parliament to Tuesday the Nineteenth day of October next, to be then there holden; and this Parliament is accordingly Prorogued to Tuesday the Nineteenth day of October next.

MINUTES.
ROYAL ASSENT.—Consolidated Fund (Appropriation); Copyright of Designs; Inclosure of Lands; Sheep, &c. Contagious Diseases Prevention; Turnpike Acts Continuance; Police (Scotland) Act Amendment; Bishops' Trusts Substitution; Titles to Land (Scotland); Sale and Transfer of Land (Ireland); Stipendiary Magistrates; County Court Districts; Chelsea Bridge Act Amendment; Returns to Secretary of State; Detached Parts of Counties; Herring Fisheries (Scotland); Cowley's Charity; Leases and Sales of Settled Estates Act Amendment; Administration of Oaths by Committees; Four Courts (Dublin) Extension; Railway Cheap Trains, &c.; Lunatics (Scotland) Act Amendment; Medical Practitioners; Joint Stock Banking Companies; County Property Conveyance; Legitimacy Declaration; Copyholds Acts Amendment; Universities (Scotland); Probates and Letters of Administration Act Amendment; Turnpike Trusts Arrangements; Vaccination (Ireland); Drafts on Bankers Law Amendment; Incumbered Estates (West Indies) Act Amendment; Militia Pay; Militia (Service Abroad) Act Continuance; Militia Act Continuance (No.2); Corrupt Practices Prevention Act Continuance; Public Health; Local Government; Government of British Columbia; Clerk of Petty Sessions (Ireland); Friendly Societies Act Amendment; Art Unions Indemnity; Reformatory Schools (Ireland); New Writs; Metropolis Local Management Act Amendment; Civil Bills, &c. (Ireland) Act Amendment; Judgments (Ireland) Act Amendment; Government of India; Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act Amendment; Cornwall Submarine Mines.
PROROGATION OF THE PARLIAMENT.

  SPEECH OF THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS.
  THE PARLIAMENTwas this day prorogued by Commission.
  The Lords Commissioners, the LORD CHANCELLOR, (Lord Chelmsford) the LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (the Marquess of Salisbury), the LORD PRIVY SEAL (the Earl of Hardwicke), the LORD CHAMBERLAIN (Earl De La Warr), and the DUKE of BEAUFORT, being in their robes and seated on a form between the Throne and the Woolsack; and the Commons being come, with their Speaker, the Royal Assent was given to several Bills.
  Then THE LORD CHANCELLOR delivered the Speech of the LORDS COMMISIONERS as follows:—
  "My Lords and Gentlemen,
  "WE are commanded by Her Majesty to express Her Satisfaction at being enabled to release you from the
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  Duties of a Session, which, though interrupted, has, by your unremitting Assiduity, been productive of many important Measures.
  "HER Majesty is happy to believe that Her Relations with Foreign Powers are such as to enable Her Majesty to look with Confidence to the Preservation of General Peace.
  "HER Majesty trusts that the Labours of the Plenipotentiaries now sitting in Conference at Paris may lead to a satisfactory Solution of the various Questions which have been referred to them.
  "THE Efforts, the Gallantry, and Devotedness, displayed in India by Her Majesty's Forces, and those of the East India Company, have been above all Praise; and Her Majesty hopes that those Efforts have already been so far crowned with Success that the formidable Revolt which has raged throughout a large Portion of Her Indian Possessions may now, under the Blessing of Almighty God, be speedily suppressed, and Peace be restored to those important Provinces.
  "IN this Hope Her Majesty has given Her willing Assent to the Act which you have passed for transferring to Her direct Authority the Government of Her Indian Dominions; and Her Majesty hopes to be enabled so to discharge the high Functions which She has assumed, as, by a just and impartial Administration of the Law, to secure its advantages alike to Her Subjects of every Race and Creed, and, by promoting their Welfare, to establish and strengthen Her Empire in India.
  "Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
  "HER Majesty commands us to thank you for the judicious Liberality

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  with which you have made Provision for the Exigencies of the Public Service.
  "THE present State of the Revenue authorises Her Majesty to entertain a confident Hope that the Supplies which you have granted will be found fully adequate to the Demands upon them.
  "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
  "THE sanitary Condition of the Metropolis must always be a Subject of deep Interest to Her Majesty, and Her Majesty has readily sanctioned the Act which you have passed for the Purification of that noble River, the present State of which is little creditable to a great Country, and seriously prejudicial to the Health and Comfort of the Inhabitants of the Metropolis.
  "HER Majesty has also willingly assented to an Act whereby greater Facilities are given for the Acquisition by Towns and Districts of such Powers as may be requisite for promoting Works of local Improvement, and thus extending more widely the Advantages of Municipal Self-government.
  "HER Majesty trusts that the Act which you have passed for the future Government of the Scotch Universities will be found highly advantageous to those venerable Institutions, and will greatly promote and extend a System of sound Moral and Religious Education in Scotland.
  "THE Transfer of Land Bill, which extends the Powers hitherto exercised by the Incumbered Estates Commissioners, and facilitates the Acquisition of an indefeasible Title by Purchasers of Land in Ireland, cannot fail to be highly beneficial to the Landed Proprietors, and to advance the Pros-
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  perity of that Part of Her Majesty's Dominions.
  "THE Act to which Her Majesty has assented for the Establishment of the Colony of British Columbia was urgently required in consequence of the recent discoveries of Gold in that District; but Her Majesty hopes that this new Colony on the Pacific may be but one Step in the Career of steady Progress, by which Her Majesty's Dominions in North America may ultimately be peopled, in an unbroken Chain, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, by a loyal and industrious Population of Subjects of the British Crown.
  "HER Majesty thankfully acknowledges the Diligence and Perseverance which has enabled you in a comparatively short Time to pass these and other Measures of inferior but not insignificant Importance.
  "MANY of you, in returning to your respective Counties, have extensive Influence to exercise, and Duties to perform of hardly less Value to the Community than those from the Labours of which you are about to be released; and Her Majesty entertains a confident Assurance that, under the Guidance of Providence, that Influence will be so employed, and those Duties so performed, as to redound to your own Honour, and to promote the general Welfare and the Happiness of a loyal and contented People.
  Then a Commission for proroguing the Parliament was read.
  After which
  THE LORD CHANCELLORsaid,
  "MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
  "By virtue of her Majesty's Commission under the Great Seal, to us and other Lords directed, and now read, we do, in Her Majesty's Name, and in obedience to Her Commands, Prorogue this Parliament

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  to Tuesday the Nineteenth Day of October next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday the Nineteenth Day of October next."