that, as an encouragement to the force, a | already that these men are scattered certain degree of promotion should take throughout the country in singularly small place within it; so that the more deserv- detachments; that the nature of their ing men might have the prospect of rising duties requires them to be in the closest to the more lucrative position of sub- contact with all classes of the population; inspectors. The Government could not and that they are consequently exposed to have a better opportunity than the pre- much greater temptation than can be sent of carrying out this recommendation. brought to bear upon a military force. THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE: My It is therefore not entirely just to asLords, I am glad of this occasion to bear cribe their freedom from disaffection to my testimony to the admirable conduct of force of discipline; because, although the the Irish constabulary. I have had the force of discipline has great effect upon opportunity of seeing the reports from the them, yet, from their scattered position, various detachments of troops employed in it is impossible that discipline can be so the disturbed districts, and on every occasion stringent and so effectual for this purpose they report that the conduct of the police as in the case of a military force. This was marked with the greatest possible loy- fact enhances the merit of the constabualty and bravery, and that not in one single lary, and enhances also what is exceedinstance had they failed to do their duty. ingly important-the confidence we may The position in which those men were place in the force for the future. I may placed was a most trying one. They were also remark that the force represents fairly scattered in very small bodies all over the the population of the country, being drawn country, many of them were of the same from Roman Catholics and Protestants in class as the misguided people who have much the same proportion which these violated the law; these people had every bear to the general population. There is facility for tempting the constabulary to no special selection of the constabulary swerve from their loyalty, and yet in not from any class of the population who may one single instance was that loyalty shaken. be supposed to be more loyal than the I rejoice to hear that the Government in- other; they are fair samples of the poputend publicly to mark their sense of the lation of Ireland-except, of course, that conduct of the constabulary; and I am great care is taken only to engage men of satisfied that the remarks made in this good character. I am exceedingly glad House, and the rewards they will now re- that I was, to some extent, the cause of ceive, will have the best possible effect the consideration by Her Majesty's late and will induce them to continue the Government of a plan for raising the pay loyalty and bravery which they have re- of the force. That rate of pay was fixed cently displayed, and which, during my many years ago and was very insufficient; own residence in Ireland, always distin- and the loss of men was so large, and the guished them. difficulty of recruiting so great, that we THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY: My had considerable apprehension as to the Lords, I should be sorry to let this oppor-efficiency of the force. The plan was pretunity pass without bearing my testimony to the admirable manner in which the Irish constabulary behaved during the late outbreak. Having had full opportunity of observing the conduct of the constabulary during the time when I was Lord Lieutenant, I can say most positively that there was scarcely an instance in which the smallest sympathy with disaffection was observed among them. The same testimony, I believe, will be borne by the present Government of the entire absence of disaffection among the force. The behaviour of the constabulary upon recent occasions is such that, as the noble Earl opposite has said, it is entirely beyond any words of mine to express the honour due to them. It must be rememberedand I must repeat what has been said pared and assented to by the late Treasury, and was carried into effect by the present Government. I think the First Lord of the Treasury will confirm my statement that that plan has been found effectual to a very considerable extent; that the same difficulty has not been experienced in recruiting during the last few months; and that a very good class of men has been joining the constabulary. I should be the last person to advocate extravagance in any branch of Her Majesty's service; but I emphatically say that I do not believe there is any force at the disposal of Her Majesty, as this may be said to be, which deserves more liberal treatment than the constabulary of Ireland. I hope that every reasonable request of theirs will be fairly and generously considered, HOUSE OF COMMONS, and that no opportunity will be lost of strengthening their loyalty and showing that their courage and trustworthiness are thoroughly appreciated by this country. This is a matter of great importance to all classes in the country; and I rejoice that the Government intend to bestow some special marks of honour on all the members of the force who have distinguished themselves. THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE: Perhaps I may be allowed to add a word on a subject of importance-the conduct of the troops during the outbreak. I am most desirous to state that their conduct, under most trying circumstances, has been most exemplary. The elements were much against them; they suffered much exposure to the worst weather; yet they marched long distances-I may say, not only without the slightest murmur, but with the greatest anxiety to perform their duty. I am persuaded that, whatever may be said to the contrary, if it came to the test, you would find among the troops no feeling except of the right sort, and that they would discharge their duty with the greatest gallantry. Motion agreed to. METROPOLITAN POOR BILL-(No. 45.) (The Earl of Devon.) THIRD READING. Monday, March 25, 1867. MINUTES.]-NEW WRITS ISSUED-For Galway Town, v. Right Hon. Michael Morris, Puisne Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Ireland; for College of the Holy Trinity, Dublin, v. Hedges Eyre Chatterton, esquire, Attorney General for Ireland. NEW MEMBER SWORN-Right Hon. Lord Robert PUBLIC BILLS-Resolution in Committee-Promissory Notes (Ireland). Ordered-Public Health (Scotland); Promissory FLOGGING IN THE ARMY.-NOTICE. SIR JOHN PAKINGTON: I wish, Sir, to give Notice that in Committee on the Mutiny Bill, on Thursday next, I propose to move a new clause instead of the clause which now stands in the Mutiny Act, relating to corporal punishment. The clause which I propose to move will have two objects. The first will be to restrict the infliction of corporal punishment in times of peace to three of Order of the Day for the Third Read- fences-namely, mutiny, aggravated ining read. THE EARL OF DEVON moved the third reading of this Bill. On a former occasion some remarks were made by a noble Earl (the Earl of Shaftesbury) with reference to the authority under which persons of unsound mind were detained in workhouses. He had received a communication which conveyed an assurance that the best means of solving the question involved should be duly considered. THE EARL OF SHAFTESBURY expressed himself satisfied with the assurance, and added, to save himself from the appearance of discourtesy to the head of the Poor Law Board in delaying so long his Notice of Motion on the subject, that he had had an interview with the right hon. Gentleman, who, he supposed, had forgotten the suggestions that were made in the extreme pressure of business. Motion agreed to: Bill read 3a, and passed. House adjourned at Six o'clock, till To-morrow, half past Ten o'clock. subordination, and disgraceful conduct of of the clause will be to provide upon the an indecent character. The second object face of the Mutiny Act that which is now only arranged under the Queen's Regulations-namely, the division of soldiers into two classes; and I propose to enact that, under no circumstances, shall a soldier of the first-class be subject to corporal punishment. I will lay upon the table of the which I mean to introduce. House to-night or to-morrow the clause CORRUPT PRACTICES AT ELECTIONSREMOVAL OF MAGISTRATES CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THIS HOUSE. ANSWER TO ADDRESS. Answer to Address [19th March] reported as follows: "I have received your Address, praying that I will give directions for the removal of all persons in the Commission of the Peace of any County, City, or Borough who have been found, either by Committees | an unsullied character, his contract of of the House of Commons or by Royal twenty-one years' service with the State, Commission, guilty of, or privy, or assent- and having thus acquired by right the enjoyment of his pension for the rest of his ing to Corrupt Practices at Parliamentary days? Elections. "Concurring with you in the propriety of discountenancing all such Corrupt Practices, I will take into my serious consideration how that object may best be accomplished." REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE QUESTION. MR. STEPHEN CAVE said, the circumstances under which Thomas Connell's pension was suspended were these :-He was sentenced by a regimental court martial on the 28th of June last year to reduction to the ranks, and ten days' imprisonment in Forfar Gaol "for conduct highly insubordinate, and to the prejudice of good order and military discipline." His commanding officer, Colonel Laird, reported on the 30th of the same month to the Secretary of State for War that, after his sentence had been read, "his conduct was scandalous in the extreme;" that he tried to excite the men to mutiny on parade, fought and struggled with the escort on the road to the station, and harangued the passengers in the train during the journey. Colonel Laird says "If he be allowed to go unpunished for these crimes in addition to that he was convicted of, it is impossible that I can maintain order and discipline in the regiment." MR. DENMAN said, he would beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether, having regard to the Act 13 & 14 Vict. c. 21, s. 4, which enacts, "That in all Acts words importing the masculine gender shall be deemed and taken to include females," it is intended by the use of the word " man," instead of the words "male person" in Clause 3 of the Bill to amend the Representation of the People, to confer the suffrage on women qualified according to the re- This report having been referred by the quirements of that Clause? Secretary of State for War to the ComTHE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHE-missioners of Chelsea Hospital, they deQUER: It appears to me, Sir, that this is a Question which the hon. and learned Gentleman might have reserved for the Committee on the Bill, when the opinion of Gentlemen of the long robe might be taken with respect to it. I am scarcely competent to offer one; but I have considered this subject, and it appears to me that if he had studied it more attentively he would have found it unnecessary to put his Question. It is laid down in the Act to which he refers that in all Acts the words importing the masculine gender shall be taken to include females unless the contrary is provided. But that is, I believe, provided in this instance. ARMY-COLOUR SERJEANT T. CONNELL. QUESTION. cided that the suspension of Connell's pension for three months was the lightest punishment they could inflict, after giving every consideration to his previous long service and good conduct. The legal authority under which the Commissioners acted in such matters was the Act 7 Geo. IV. c. 16, s. 13, which enacted "That it should be lawful for the Commis sioners, and they are thereby authorized and em- This Act was confirmed by the Act 9 & 10 Vict. c. 10. The last part of the question was somewhat ambiguous. If by "right" the hon. and gallant Member meant legal right, he had shown COLONEL SYKES said, he wished to ask that the law under which the pensions the Paymaster General, By what legal were granted provided for their contingent authority the Commissioners of Chelsea suspension and forfeiture. If the hon. Hospital suspended the pension of Colour and gallant Member meant that in his Sergeant T. Connell, late of the 78th opinion the law ought not to contain such Highlanders, to the amount of £9, for a provision, it was obvious that he had alleged insubordination as a clerk in the entered upon a field of argument far beoffice of the Adjutant of a Militia Artil-yond the limits of a simple question and lery Regiment, he having completed, with answer. REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE | £10, 32,000; and below £10, 36,000; BILL-WEST BROMWICH. QUESTION. MR. H. B. SHERIDAN said, he would beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether, considering that West Bromwich, if united to Wednesbury and Tipton as proposed, would form a Borough, the population of which would be 92,000, with 18,000 houses, he will take into his consideration the question of creating West Bromwich a separate Borough with one Member, instead of giving, as is proposed, an additional Member to the County? THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: Sir, if the hon. Gentleman will refer to the Act for amending the Representation of the People, he will find that he is under an erroneous impression in supposing that we propose to give an additional Member to South Staffordshire. What we propose is to divide the county, and to give it two Members. It will therefore not be in our power to adopt the suggestion of the hon. Member. CASE OF THE "VICTORIA." making a total of 68,000. IRELAND-SUSPENSION OF THE HABEAS CORPUS ACT.-QUESTION. MR. OSBORNE said, he rose to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether, previous to the meeting of Parliament, any communications were made to or addressed by the Irish Government to the Lieutenants of Counties in Ireland, the Commissioners of Police in Dublin, the Inspector General of Constabulary, or the Justices and Resident Magistrates in Ireland, as to the expediency of a further continuance of the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act beyond the 26th February 1867, or of allowing it to expire on that day; and if any such communications were made, whether he will lay the original inquiries, and replies thereto, upon the table of the House? LORD NAAS: In answer, Sir, to my hon. Friend, I have to say that the Irish Government are not in the habit of consulting the Lieutenants of Counties in Ireland, the Commissioners of Police in Dublin, the Inspector General of Constahebulary, or the Justices and Resident Magistrates, before they come to a decision on a matter of such importance as the proposal to renew the Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland. I can only say that that recommendation was made on the responsibility of the Irish Government, and I am prepared to defend it. Of course, as no such communications were made, no replies were received. any SIR ROBERT COLLIER said, would beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he has objection to lay upon the table of the House, the Correspondence between the British Government and that of Spain relative to the capture of the Victoria? LORD STANLEY: I have, Sir, no objection to produce the Papers. They will be laid upon the table as soon as they can be prepared. REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE BILL-BOROUGH FRANCHISE. QUESTION. MR. WARNER said, he would beg to MR. OSBORNĚ: Then, Sir, I beg leave to give notice that on an early day I will draw attention to the Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act, and to the state of Ireland generally. REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE THE BOROUGH REGISTER. QUESTION. ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, BILL-THE WORKING CLASSES AND Whether he can furnish the House with any estimate of the probable number of new £10 Borough Voters who would be added to the Constituencies by that part of his Reform Bill which provides for the Re-distribution of Seats, irrespectively of the proposed alterations of the Franchise? MR. LOWTHER said, he would beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether he can form any estimate of what would be the probable percentage of the Working Classes upon the Borough Register if the proposed Reform Bill became Law? THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: Sir, the population of the new Boroughs is 438,000, and the occupiers, THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEestimated at the same ratio as in the case QUER: There are no data, Sir, on which of England and Wales, would be-above to form an estimate of what the number of working classes purely on the register would be. No doubt those who would come under the provisions of the new Act would form portions of very various classes. UNITED STATES-THE "ALABAMA " CLAIMS.-QUESTION. MR. SHAW-LEFEVRE said, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is true that the renewed Correspondence with the United States Government on the subject of the Alabama claims has been concluded; and, if so, whether he will lay the Papers upon the table of the House? stances relative to Mr. Churchward, has rescinded his appointment as a Magistrate of Dover? MR. WALPOLE: Sir, the Lord Chancellor is taking all these cases into consideration. REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE BILL-PROGRESS.-QUESTION. MR. BRIGHT: Sir, I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether there is any truth in the statements that have been lately published—that it is the intention of the Government, if the Representation of the People Bill be read a second time, that the Committee shall be postponed till after Easter; or, whether, pursuant to the impression he gave the House, as to sitting in Committee from day to day, he will move for the Bill going into Committee on the very first opportunity after the Second Reading? LORD STANLEY: Sir, the Correspondence with the United States Government on the subject of the Alabama claims-or, I should rather say, on the subject of the claims on both sides, arising out of the events of the late war-is not at present concluded. Under these circumstances, THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEI think it would be better to defer the QUER: Sir, I am not aware of the expublication of the papers. I may, how-istence of the reports referred to by the ever, perhaps take this opportunity of con- hon. Member. They may, perhaps, have tradicting a report which has gone the emanated from some journal with which rounds of the newspapers to the effect that the hon. Member is more familiar than communications stated to be of a very un-myself. [Mr. BRIGHT : The Morning friendly character had been received from the Government at Washington. There is no truth whatever in such a report. DISTURBANCES IN IRELAND-CASE QUESTION. MR. WHALLEY said, he wished to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether he has received any further information in reference to the shooting of Police Constable Duggan, and the alleged conduct of Priest Maginn and Bishop Moriarty in connection with it? LORD NAAS, in reply, stated, that he adhered to the statement he made last Friday, that no formal inquiry was instituted into the circumstances of the case alluded to by the hon. Member. doubt informations were taken in usual way. CASE OF MR. CHURCHWARD. QUESTION. Post.] There is no authority, however, for such a statement. The time has not yet come for considering the question as to when we shall go into Committee on a Bill which has not yet been read a second time. In due time I shall make a proper announcement as to the course which the Government will adopt. PARLIAMENTARY REFORMREPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE BILL.-[BILL 79.] (Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Secretary Walpole, Lord Stanley.) SECOND READING. Order for Second Reading read. Motion made, and Question proposed, No" That the Bill be now read a second the time.”—(Mr. Hunt.) MR. SERJEANT GASELEE: Now, Sir, that we have the gracious Reply of Her Majesty to the Address of the House, I wish to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether the Lord Chancellor, since finding out the circum MR. GLADSTONE: Sir, I think that if the question now put were not upon the second reading, but upon the third reading of the Bill which I hold in my hand, in the terms and to the effect with which it is framed, that it would be negatived by a majority, and, perhaps, even by a large majority, of the House. I think, further, that if we were now considering the question whether the House should resolve into |