changes by promotion from one corps to the other should be allowed is still in force; whether, in the opinion of the Board of Admiralty, such Orders in Council are to be construed as strictly as other Laws, or may be set aside at the discretion of the Board for any reason whatever; and, whether in his opinion the recent promotions of a Colonel from the Royal Marine Artillery to be General in the Royal Marine Light Infantry, and of an officer in the Royal Marine Light Infantry to be General in the Royal Marine Artillery, were in accordance with the Order of March 21st 1862; and, if not, whether it is the intention of the Board of Admiralty to return those officers to the branches of the Service to which they were assigned under that Order in Council? for War, Whether, previous to the disposal of any portion of the £22,800 proposed to be given to inventors, he is willing to appoint a Committee to inquire into_the claims of Messrs. Whitworth, Jeffery, Padwick, Lynall Thomas, Lancaster, and Captain Scott, all of whom have devoted much time, labour, and money in the improvement of rifled ordnance and projectiles, and have hitherto not been rewarded? SIR JOHN PAKINGTON, in reply, said, Government had no intention to appoint any such Committee. There was already a department in the War Office which inquired very fully and thoroughly into these matters, but apart from that there was really nothing for a Committee to inquire into. He was not aware that Mr. Whitworth had made a claim; Mr. Jeffery had received a reward, Mr. Padwick had been offered a sum of money which he had refused, Mr. Lynall Thomas had become bankrupt, Mr. Lancaster had received a handsome sum, with which he was satisfied, and Captain Scott had made no claim. DISFRANCHISED BOROUGHS. MR. CORRY, in reply, said, that the Order in Council of the 21st March, 1862, forming distinct lists of officers for the Royal Marine Artillery and the Royal Marine Light Infantry, and providing that after those lists should have been formed no more interchanges by promotion from one corps to the other should be REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE— allowed, was still in force, and that in the opinion of the Admiralty such Order was to be construed as strictly as other laws. He would add that the recent promotions of a Colonel from the Royal Marine Artillery to be General in the Royal Marine Light Infantry, and the transfer of a General Officer in the Royal Marine Light Infantry to be General in the Royal Marine Artillery, were not at variance with the Order in Council of 1862. IRELAND-MANAGEMENT OF CITY PRISONS.-QUESTION. QUESTION. MR. RUSSELL GURNEY said, he would beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether, if the Boroughs of Lancaster, Great Yarmouth, Reigate, and give votes for the respective Counties in Totnes are disfranchised, it is proposed to which they are situated to those persons whom the Commissioners, after full inquiry, have found to have been guilty of corrupt practices by either giving, promising, or receiving bribes ? THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEMR. VERNER said, he wished to ask QUER said, he did not think that the inthe Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether dividuals referred to should have votes for it is the intention of Her Majesty's Go- the respective counties in which the bovernment to introduce any Bill this Ses-roughs mentioned were situated. Their sion to alter and amend the management names were all scheduled, and he did not of City Prisons in Ireland by Boards of see that there would be any difficulty in Superintendence? providing against their exercise of the vote. LORD NAAS, in reply, said, it was not the intention of Government to introduce any special Bill, but that they would introduce one on the general subject of Prisons in Ireland. REWARDS TO INVENTORS-ORDNANCE REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE QUESTION. MR. MORRISON said, he would beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If it is his intention to propose that the House should proceed with the Debate on SIERRA LEONE-TRIAL BY JURY. the Motion to go into Committee on the Bill to amend the Representation of the People, or the Amendments thereto, on Tuesday next, and to proceed thereafter with the Bill de die in diem, on the nights reserved to private Members as well as on Government nights, in the event of hon. Members who have Motions on the Paper consenting to waive their right to precedence on those nights? THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, in reply, said, the Government would take every step in their power to advance the progress of the Bill, for the improvement of the Representation of the People; but of course it would be the utmost presumption in him to interfere with the privileges of Private Members on the nights devoted to them. He would leave the exercise of the enjoyment of that privilege to their discretion. COLONEL FRENCH said, he for one would not waive his claim. REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE BILL-THE PROPOSED ALTERATIONS. QUESTION. SIR WILLIAM HUTT said, he would beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether, previous to Monday next, he will lay before the House, in a printed form, all the alterations which Her Majesty's Government have determined to introduce in Committee into the Bill for amending the Representation of the People? THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER said, it would be clearly impossible to comply with the request of the right hon. Gentleman. He did not know of any Government that ever existed which could tell all the alterations that might be introduced into such a Bill. At present the modifications introduced by the Government were not so much alterations as additions, and they had reference chiefly to a series of clauses as to the modes by which the right of compound-householders to claim the franchise should be established. He was in hopes that he should have been able to lay these clauses upon the table that evening; but he had not been able to do so on account of the difficulty of the subject, and the great consideration which it required. He hoped, however, to be able to lay them before the House to-morrow, and in the hands of hon. Members by Saturday. QUESTION. SIR PATRICK O'BRIEN said, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether the attention of the Government has been called to an Ordinance issued by the Governor and Council of Sierra Leone, removing the right of trial by jury in all civil actions in that Colony; and, whether a Petition against such Ordinance, signed by native merchants and other inhabitants of the Colony, has been received at the Colonial Office? MR. ADDERLEY, in reply, said, the hon. Member for East Surrey (Mr. Buxton) had already called the attention of the House to this subject, and had moved for Papers which had only that day been laid the table of the House. upon IRELAND-INSPECTORS OF COUNTY MR. BLAKE said, he rose to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether he proposes, during the present Session, to introduce a Bill for the amalgamation of the offices of Inspectors General of County Prisons and Inspectors of Convict Prisons in Ireland; and, if so, whether such Bill will also contain a provision for transferring prisoners for the future, sentenced to periods over six months, to Convict Prisons to undergo their term of punishment? LORD NAAS said, in reply, that the subject was under the consideration of Government. A Bill was already in preparation which would have the effect of consolidating the present Prison Acts, and would provide more uniform treatment of prisoners. It would, however, depend upon the state of public business whether it could be introduced at an early period. CATTLE PLAGUE-IMPORTATION OF FOREIGN CATTLE.-QUESTION. MAJOR JERVIS said, he wished to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council for Education, Whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to introduce a Bill to regulate the importation of foreign cattle into this country? LORD ROBERT MONTAGU replied, that a Bill had been prepared on the subject of the cattle plague, which would shortly be laid on the table. Its object was to continue the Acts of last Session, which would expire in August next, and to remedy some defects which experience had shown to exist in those Acts; and also to embody Orders in Council, in order that they might at any time be put locally in force. JAPAN-EUROPEAN TROOPS AT YOKUHAMA.-QUESTION. MR. OLIPHANT said, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, What arrangements have been made with the Government of Japan relative to the European garrison at Yokuhama; at what strength it is proposed that such garrison should be maintained; whether it is intended to be permanent; and whether there would be any objection to laying the Correspondence upon the subject upon the table of the House? that day met a deputation at the Board of Trade, and had proposed to them that if it would satisfy the Gas Companies he was prepared to withdraw the first Bill and bring in another, leaving blanks for filling in the price and standard quality of the gas. He told the deputation that he would postpone the second reading of the present Bill till next Thursday, and if they should agree to his proposal he should then move that the Order for the present Bill be discharged, and should ask leave to bring in another, to be read a second time after Easter. QUARANTINE AT SOUTHAMPTON. SIR JERVOISE JERVOISE said, he LORD STANLEY said, in reply, that the wished to ask the Vice President of the arrangements which had been made with Committee of Council on Education, Whethe Government of Japan relative to the ther, on the 25th of January last, the Lords European forces stationed there, extended of the Privy Council issued an Order perover a considerable period. It was, hemitting Dr. Edward Seaton to go on board thought, in January, 1864, that two companies of infantry were first landed there, and in May of the same year further reinforcements were applied for. Under the management of Sir Rutherford Alcock, our Minister there, the arrangements had been carried out with great good will, the Japanese Government undertaking to provide barrack accommodation. In March of last year the War Office informed Lord Clarendon that under existing circumstances it would not be prudent to leave less than a full regiment in Japan. Since that time the force had remained there without any demand from the Japanese Government for their withdrawal, or any intimation that their presence was objectionable. The arrangement was of a temporary character, but the strength of the force there must necessarily depend upon the state of the country. There were not many Papers on the subject, and he had no objection to lay them upon the table. METROPOLIS GAS BILL. QUESTION. the vessels called the La Plata, Æolus, and Menelaus, under quarantine at the Motherbank, off the Isle of Wight, " without being in any way subject to the restraint of quarantine;" and, if so, on what principle Dr. Seaton was privileged to forego the requirements supposed to be necessary for the security of the public health? LORD ROBERT MONTAGU, in reply, said, the occurrence alluded to by the hon. Baronet took place during the very cold weather in January last. Quarantine was not founded on the theory that it was necessary to stop the spread of yellow fever in cold weather, but rather to prevent injury to commerce. If a vessel arrived at Southampton from the West Indies with yellow fever on board, that port would be declared infected, and every vessel proceeding thence to foreign countries would That would be detained in quarantine. be injurious to commerce. Quarantine in this country was not a medical, but a commercial regulation. Dr. Seaton did go on board the vessels named; but it was recog nised by all foreign countries that medical officers had a right to board vessels in quarantine. MR. HARVEY LEWIS said, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, Whether it is his intention to proceed with the Metropolis Gas Bill before the Easter CESSION OF RUSSIAN AMERICA TO THE Recess ? SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE, in reply, said, the second reading of the Bill had been fixed for to-morrow, but it would be impossible to take it then. He had UNITED STATES.-QUESTION. SIR ANDREW AGNEW said, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he can give any information as to the reported cession of Russian America to the United States; and, whether the Alentian Islands are included in the Russo American territory? LORD STANLEY: Sir, I have a telegram from St. Petersburg which in substance is to this effect, that official intelligence has been received of the purchase of the territory by the United States. I presume, therefore, that the arrangement is complete so far as the American Executive is concerned; but the House is of course aware that, by the constitution of the United States, a treaty requires to be confirmed by the Senate, and I have not yet heard that that confirmation has taken place. I am not able to state whether the Alentian Islands are included in the ceded territory. I should rather think not. I believe they are under the Government on the Asiatic side. But of that I am not quite certain. REPORTS OF INSPECTORS OF CON STABULARY.-QUESTION. MR. WHITWORTH said, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If there are any reasons why the Statistical Tables of the Reports of the Inspectors of Constabulary should not be alike in form; and, if not, whether he will give instructions for the Reports of the Northern and Southern Districts to contain similar Tables to the valuable ones supplied by the Inspector for the Eastern Counties, Midland, and North Wales Districts? MR. WALPOLE: Sir, the Secretary of State for the Home Department has no control over the form in which these Returns are drawn up. They are certainly different in different parts of England, but I will make inquiry as to how uniformity can best be secured. OUR RELATIONS WITH SPAIN. QUESTION. MR. OSBORNE: I wish, Sir, to ask a Question of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, suggested by the extraordinary nature of the last Despatch written by the noble Lord to the Spanish Government. The Question I wish to put is, Whether the noble Lord will give the House any account or assurance of the state of our relations at this moment with the Spanish Government ? LORD STANLEY: All the correspondence that has passed between the Spanish Government and that of Her Majesty is in the hands of the House. MR. OSBORNE: Has no answer been returned? ["Order!"] I wish to put this Question distinctly, and to have an answer without fencing. ["Oh!"] Yes. It is very important. I speak with reference to the last despatch of the noble Lord, in which a distinct threat is held out to the Spanish Government. I wish to know if the noble Lord has received any answer to that threat? LORD STANLEY: I must remind the hon. Gentleman that if he expects from me a definite answer, he must first put a distinct Question. He has now done so, but certainly he did not in the first instance. My difficulty in replying to him was this: We have at this moment two questions pending with the Spanish Government, one relating to the Tornado, and another relating to the Victoria. I presume the hon. Gentleman refers to the latter. Then, with regard to that case, I can say nothing more than what I have statedthat the whole Correspondence, as far as it has gone, is in the hands of the House. I have not yet received any answer to the last despatch which concludes the papers. that his Estimates, tested by a trial of so ture for the present year 1867-8. I may extreme a character, should yet have mention, in the first place, that the Naval proved the sagacity of his calculations; and Military Annuity granted to the and it will not only be satisfactory to him, but I am sure to the whole House, when I tell them that notwithstanding the scenes of apparently extreme peril this country, as regards its financial condition, went through after that statement was made -notwithstanding the disasters experienced by the financial circles of this country-the consuming power of the country never for a moment flagged, and the results are of a nature which, whatever may be the anticipations of the House, will, I am sure, be a source of as much satisfaction as surprise. Sir, the right hon. Gentleman estimated his income last year, for the year 1866-7 at £67,013,000, and the actual income amounted to £69,434,000, showing a surplus of £2,421,568, and this after a period of trial which, so far certainly as the monetary interests of this country are concerned, has seldom been equalled. But what is most gratifying is that this surplus has been acquired mainly and almost entirely under the heads of Customs and Excise-by the consumption of sugar, of tobacco, of malt, and of spirits. The right hon. Gentleman estimated his Customs last year at £20,923,000; they have realized £22,303,000, showing an showing an increase of £1,380,000. He estimated his Excise at £19,665,000; it has realized £20,670,000, showing an increase of £1,005,000. The other items in his Estimate have been realized, but they call for no particular remark. As the Committee will see from the items I have given them, the surplus is almost accounted for by the increase in the Revenue of the year under the two heads of Customs and Excise. The estimated expenditure for the year 1866-7 was £67,031,000-including the sum of £369,000, Supplementary Estimates voted in the Session of 1867. The actual issues from the Exchequer during the year were £66,780,396. There has therefore been a saving effected of £251,000, so that the balance surplus of the year 1866-7 will amount to £2,654,172. This, of course, has exercised a very salutary influence on the balances of the Exchequer, which stand thus on March 31, 1866, the balances in the Exchequer amounted to £5,851,314; and on March 31, 1867, to £7,294,151. Sir, it will now be my duty to call the attention of the Committee to the expendi Bank in 1823, which was designated at the time by Mr. Cobbett "the Dead Weight Annuity," and which has ever since borne that name, ceases, I believe, to-morrow. Though we shall have to provide a portion of that annual charge during the present year, that provision will be limited only to the last moiety, which is something under £300,000. The exact sum is £284,000. The estimated expenditure of the present year will stand in this wise the interest on the Debt actually payable in the year, and providing for the completion of the measure of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for South Lancashire for the conversion of the £5,000,000 of Debt, which, from circumstances to which I shall afterwards have to refer, is not yet completed-the total interest on the Debt actually payable, providing for that conversion, will be £26,000,000. The other charges on the Consolidated Fund will amount to £1,900,000. There is an increase—though a slight one-which arises from a change in the mode of meeting certain charges. Thus the salaries of the Masters of the Law Courts, which were formerly paid by fees, have been transferred to the Consolidated Fund, as the fees have been converted into stamps— the increased charges on the Consolidated Fund caused by this transfer will be balanced by the increased receipts under the head of Stamps. The Army Services, including the Supplementary Vote for £500,000, will amount to £15,253,000, the Navy Services will reach £10,926,000; the Civil Service, £8,203,000; the Revenue Departments, £5,045,000; the Packet Service, £807,000; making a total estimated expenditure for the year of £68,134,000. I now proceed to state in what manner the income to meet these estimated charges is to be obtained. We estimate the Customs income for the year at £22,000,000. That is a diminution certainly upon what was received during the year just terminated; but there are special reasons, and which are to us apparently valid, for that estimate; there were exceptional circumstances concerning the consumption of sugar and rum last year, in consequence of the scarcity of barley, which very much affected the Revenue; and it would not be prudent to estimate the Customs at a |