House adjourned at a quarter before Judges in Scotland before it could be | tracy similar to that of England, and it possible to carry out the suggestion of would be perfectly hopeless for any Gomy noble Friend. It has already been vernment to attempt to introduce a sysunder consideration whether it would be tem other than that which now exists. possible for the sheriffs to attend all these criminal investigations in which LUNACY DISTRICTS (SCOTLAND) BILL [H.L.] public interests are involved--in such A Bill to make provision for altering and cases as railway accidents or loss of varying Lunacy Districts in Scotland-Was life at sea or mining explosions; but, (No. 108.) presented by The Lord RAMSAY; read 1. up to the present time, it has not been possible to make any arrangement for doing so; and before it could be done I think the Secretary of State would be compelled to have recourse to Parliament for provisional legislation in the matter. I have to say, in reply to my noble Friend, although it is impossible for the Government to pledge themselves to any particular course in regard to this matter-and I am bound to say in addition, as far as Her Majesty's Government are aware, there exists no general desire in Scotland for the change he has mentionedthe Government are alive to the importance of the question, and undertake to give it their careful consideration, and more than that I am unable to say. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Monday, 13th June, 1881. MINUTES.]-SUPPLY-considered in Committee ROADS PROVISIONAL ORDER (EDINBURGH) BILL. LORD WAVENEY said, he must apologize for interfering in Scottish affairs; but it seemed to him that the remedy existed in returning to the old ways which existed before Government agency was substituted for the services of the landed proprietors. The Jacobite Re- On Motion of Secretary Sir WILLIAM HARbellions of 1715 and 1745 led the Hano- cOURT, Bill to confirm a Provisional Order of verian Government to put an end to one of Her Majesty's l'rincipal Secretaries of the system of magistracy which then Bridges (Scotland) Act, 1878," shall come into "The Roads and State for providing that prevailed among the country gentle-force in the County of Edinburgh on the first men, owing to the suspicion which was day of September, one thousand eight hundred entertained of their tendencies. It and eighty-one, subject to certain conditions, would be, he thought, a very great ad- ordered to be brought in by Secretary Sir WILdition to the satisfaction of the Scottish proprietors in general, and an advantage to the country and public service, if a return were made to the old ways, or, at all events, that the Scottish gentlemen had the power of participating in the government of the country beyond their duties of Commissioners of Supply. THE EARL OF DALHOUSIE: I may, without indiscretion, I think, give a very short answer to the suggestion of my noble Friend Lord Waveney). The answer is simply this that the people of Scotland would not understand it, and, I may say, would not stand it either. There is a very strong feeling LIAM HARCOURT and The LORD ADVOCATE. Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 185.] LOCAL COURTS OF BANKRUPTCY (IRELAND) [SALARIES, &c.] Considered in Committee. (In the Committee.) Resolved, That it is expedient to authorise the payment, out of moneys to be provided by Parliament, of Salaries and Pensions of Officers, and of Compensation to them for loss of EmoluStearn Ball Miller becoming the remaining ments; also, in the event of the Honourable Judge of the Court of Bankruptcy, of the payment to him of additional Salary, in consideration of additional duties which may be imposed upon him under the provisions of any Act of the present Session for the establishment of Local Courts of Bankruptcy in Ireland. Resolution to be reported To-morrow, at Two QUESTIONS. 1901 TRADE AND COMMERCE-EXPORT AND IMPORT TRADE WITH FRANCE. MR. MAC IVER asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether his attention has been called to a printed statement which is being circulated by Sir Henry Peek, in which it is alleged that the value of our exports to France has during the last ten years diminished from about £33,000,000 to £28,000,000, while the annual value of our imports has during the same period increased from about £30,000,000 to £42,000,000; and, whether, if the facts are so, Her Majesty's Government will, in the negotiation of any new Commercial Treaty with France, insist upon such arrangements as are likely to amend this state of things and to ensure an equitable division of the profits of inter national trade? MR. CHAMBERLAIN: Sir, I have to make an appeal to the hon. Member for Birkenhead that he will not needlessly waste the time of the House by putting Questions with referenceCries of "Oh, oh!" "Order!" and Withdraw!" from the Opposition.] MR. SPEAKER: The right hon. Gentleman the Member for Birmingham is in possession of the House, and he has said nothing un-Parliamentary. MR. CHAMBERLAIN: I must repeat, Sir, I have to make an appeal to the hon. Member not to put Questions with reference to figures, the plain answer to which is contained in a statistical abstract, which is in possession of the hon. Member and of all other hon. Members. I have further to say that the hon. Member, in the Question he has placed on the Paper to-day, seems to take as his foundation the figures which concern the year 1871, which, he is probably aware, was quite an exceptional year in the transactions between this country and France. If the hon. Member will examine the figures in the abstract to which I have referred, he will fat in the last 15 years there considerable variation in this country to France, re has been no consisthose exports. The ply to the imports from intry. They have not shown any steady or consistent increase. Even if they had, I should differ from the hon. Member in considering that state of things injurious to this country. MR. MAC IVER: Sir, in consequence of the reply of the right hon. Gentleman, I shall, on an early day, call attention to the inaccuracies in his statement. ARMY COMMISSIONS-MILITIA SUBALTERNS. SIR EDWARD WATKIN asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether the number of Army Commissions to be offered to Militia Subalterns for competition at the Examination in September next is to be reduced from sixty to thirty; and, if so, on what grounds? MR. CHILDERS: Sir, my hon. Friend 16th of May, when I gave a long answer was, I presume, not in the House on the Burnley (Mr. Rylands). I explained to on this subject to the hon. Member for him then that, under the new organizain the number of officers, and that this tion, there would be a large reduction would necessitate a smaller number of annual admissions. But for the hardship to young men who have been preparing for the Army, it would be unnecessary to appoint any subalterns or cadets whatever in the Cavalry or Indecided to spread the reductions over fantry next year. We have, however, about four years; and, accordingly, 72 fewer cadets will be annually sent to Sandhurst, and 60 fewer lieutenants will come from the Militia. As to the latter, it must be remembered that in 1880 74 commissions beyond the fixed annual number were given to Militia officers, so that they have no possible grievance. We have, however, considered whether, as the notice to the Militia is a little shorter than that about Sandhurst, some relaxation might not be allowed in respect of the examination in September, and I have decided to allow 40 to enter then, instead of 80. But the fixed number in March next and afterwards will be 30 every half-year until all the supernumeraries are absorbed. DIVINITY DEGREES (IRELAND). MR. J. G. TALBOT asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the Government intend to empower the Magee and other Presbyterian Colleges in Ireland to grant Regiments (stationed at Cape Coast degrees in divinity; and, whether, if such intention exists, provision will be made that the same shall only be conferred upon graduates in arts of some University of the United Kingdom, so as to ensure a sufficiently high standard of general education? MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, it was the intention of the Government to advise Her Majesty to give a Charter to these Colleges to grant degrees for theology; and provision would be made that such degrees should be conferred on those only who obtained a sufficiently high standard in general education. STATE OF IRELAND-OUTRAGE AT CLIFDEN. "Three companies and their officers are living in tents on the seaboard, a very inadequate protection against the tremendous force of tropical rains. The other three companies are quartered in the foully dirty Fantee town. In addition to the general filth which results from the unclean habits of the people, and the herds of pigs and goats which wander at large through the streets, all the houses possess large, open, been cleansed in any way, but overflow in a old cesspools, which for many years have never foul green slime, which percolates beneath the houses and oozes out on the further side;" whether one-third of the officers have not already died or been invalided; whether others are not daily sent into hospital; and, who is responsible; and, whether any steps were taken when war with Ashantee appeared to be imminent to place Cape Coast Castle in telegraphic communication with this Country? MR. CHILDERS: Sir, in reply to the first part of my hon. Friend's Question, I can only refer him to the very full answer I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Thirsk (Colonel Dawnay) on the same subject on Friday. The troops were sent from the West Indies with the utmost expedition, which has had the MR. MACARTNEY asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the case that a shot was fired on Thursday night, the 12th of May, through one of the bedroom windows of the Protestant Female Industrial School at Clifden, while the Matron, who had a narrow escape of her life, was in the act of closing the shutters; and, if so, whether the Government has taken measures to protect the poor Protestants in that part of Ire-effect of preventing war, and there was land from similar acts of persecution and violence? MR. W. E. FORSTER: Sir, the facts of this case are as follows:-On May 12 the matron of the Industrial School at Chifden was retiring to bed when near her window she heard the report of a gun. She afterwards found that two of the panes were cracked, but the shot did not go through the glass. The gun must have been fired at a considerable distance from the house. The police who were on patrol in the neighbourhood at the time also heard the report of the gun; but, I am sorry to say, have as yet found no trace of the perpetrator of the outrage, which I look upon as being sectarian rather than agrarian. Directions have been given to the police to pay particular attention to the school in future. ARMY-AFRICA (WEST)-THE TROOPS AT CAPE COAST CASTLE. SIR EDWARD WATKIN asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether his attention has been called to a statement in the "Morning Post" of June 3, respecting the 1st and 2nd West India no time to make any communication to Cape Coast before their arrival. In reply to the second part, I have to say that one officer has died, and 21 out of 55 have been invalided. The troops were put under canvas as soon as possible, and the invaliding thence has been much less than in the hired houses. As to responsibility, I cannot attribute blame to anyone, as, unfortunately, the King of Ashantee threatened war at the most pestilential season, and, but for the prompt measures taken, we should probably have been at war with him now. I have no official knowledge as to arrangements for laying down cables to our Colonies, and some months ago we pointed out the expediency on military grounds of improving the telegraphic communication in the direction of Cape Coast. Of course, other considerations besides military ones have to be weighed in such a matter. WELLINGTON COLLEGE -THE ROYAL MR. J. R. YORKE asked the Vice President of the Council, Whether it is intended by the Governing Body of Wellington College to carry out the re- I commendations of the Royal Commission on that Institution, especially as regards the appointment of a "small executive Committee, whose avocations would permit them to devote a constant attention to their duties; " "The Governing Body of Wellington College TREATY OF BERLIN-ARTICLE 23 SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, What course Her Majesty's Government propose to take to obtain the introduction into the European Provinces of Turkey of the reforms contemplated by the 23rd Clause of the Treaty of Berlin; whether Lord Dufferin has received any instructions with this object; and, whether such instructions and any other correspondence on the subject can be laid upon the Table? SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: Sir, I whether any members of that Committee will be nominated by the Military authorities, as desired by Army Officers; and, on what date the Annual Report on the financial working of the College will be presented to Parliament, in accordance with the strongly expressed opinion of the Royal Commission on that subject? MR. MUNDELLA: Sir, I have communicated with the Governors of Well-informed my hon. Friend on the 1st of ington College, and I am requested to March that Her Majesty's Government give the following answer to the Ques- had proposed in September last that the tion of the hon. Member:— Representatives of the Powers at Constantinople should be authorized to discuss the means of prevailing upon the Porte to put into force the new statute elaborated under the 23rd Article of the Treaty of Berlin, and that instructions to that effect had been sent to the Ambassadors of France, Russia, and Italy. The time of the Representatives has since that date been fully occupied with the Greek Frontier negotiations; but now that a Convention has been signed, it may be hoped that they will be able to turn their attention to the questions arising out of the 23rd Article. Lord Dufferin is fully acquainted with the views of Her Majesty's Government on this and other points connected with the Treaty of Berlin. have appointed a small committee consisting of five members-two of whom are officers of the Army. That committee is now engaged in carrying out such recommendations of the Royal Commission as, in the opinion of the Governors, will conduce to the best interests of the College. An annual Report of the financial working of the College will be presented to the Queen, through the Secretary of State, in the month of March in each year." STATE OF IRELAND-RESISTANCE TO MR. J. R. YORKE asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the fact that the bells of the chapels in the district where processes of the Law are about to be enforced in Ireland are made the medium of summoning the inhabitants to resist the carrying out of the Law; whether this was the case at Michelstown, county Cork, last week; whether such use of means ordinarily used to summon congregations for religious exercises is legitimate; and, whether the sanction of the clergy of the several parishes was sought and obtained? FOREIGN JEWS IN RUSSIA — EXPUL- BARON HENRY DE WORMS asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is true, as stated in a communication from St. Petersburg in the "Times" of June 7th, that the MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, legal adviser of Her Majesty's Governhe had received reports as to the carry- ment in that capital has come to the ing out of this practice in certain dis- conclusion, after a review of the Rustricts, and he believed it had occurred sian laws and regulations regarding at Michelstown. In some cases, though foreign Jews, that the expulsion of Mr. not in all, that course of conduct had Lewisohn from Russia last year was received the sanction of the clergy. The illegal; and, if so, whether he will lay practice was entirely illegal, and wher- a Copy of the Document in which this ever the Government could they pro- opinion is expressed upon the Table of ceeded against the offenders; but there the House; and, what steps Her Mawas great difficulty in obtaining evi-jesty's Government are now prepared to dence. take in the matter? Mr. J. R. Yorke SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: Sir, a Report on the subject by the Legal Adviser of Her Majesty's Embassy was received this morning. As soon as it has been considered I shall be prepared to give an answer to my hon. Friend's Question. AUSTRIA AND SERVIA-COMMERCIAL TREATY. STATE OF IRELAND-DISTRESS IN THE COUNTY ROSCOMMON. MR. O'KELLY asked the Chief Seretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the Local Government Board have been made aware, through their inspector, of the existence of distress in the district of Tarmonbarry, co. Roscommon; and, if so, what steps have been taken to meet the distress? MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, that the Local Government Board had not received any special Report from their Inspector with regard to the distress in the district referred to. They had, however, been told of the distress by one of the parish priests of the district. There were some public works which were authorized to be done in the barony in which the place was situate; but the Government had no other legal expiration of the Relief Act, except the usual power of granting Poor Law relief. He had, however, hopes that those ordinary powers would be sufficient to meet the distress. STATE OF IRELAND-LANDLORD AND TENANT-COLONEL FORBES. SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether a Treaty has been recently concluded between Austria-Hungary and Servia, under which paper, stonework, pottery, glass, iron, and steel, whether manufactured or partially manufactured, coming from the customs territory of Austria-Hungary are to be admitted into Servia at half the duties charged on such materials imported from any other country; whether, by a Proto-power to relieve distress, owing to the col annexed to this Treaty, Austro-Hungarian trade marks are to have priority of registration in Servia over the trade marks of third countries; whether these preferential rights accorded to AustriaHungary are consistent with the "most favoured nation" Clauses of the Treaty between Her Majesty and the Prince of Servia concluded in February 1880; and, whether Her Majesty's Government will state what course they have adopted, or are prepared to adopt, with the view of preventing this violation of the Treaty rights of this country, and the consequent injury to British trade, and lay upon the Table the Treaty with its annexes, together with any Correspondence on the subject with the Governments of Austria-Hungary and Servia? SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: Sir, the whole matter is engaging the most anxious and careful attention of Her Majesty's Government. It is hoped that means will be found of obviating any injurious effects to British trade likely to arise from arrangements between the Austrian and Servian Governments. It is not advisable to lay Papers on the Table at present. In reply to a further Question by Sir H. DRUMMOND WOLFF, SIR CHARLES W. DILKE said, Her Majesty's Government had warned the Servian Government that they must adhere strictly to their Treaty engagements towards Great Britain. MR. A.M.SULLIVAN asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is true that landlords in Ireland have been demanding and are enforcing by expensive legal proceedings payment of half-year's rent due only in May last, no other arrear being due; if it is the fact that he has had his attention in particular called to the alleged conduct of Colonel Forbes, of county Leitrim, who, it is stated, on the 4th instant, through his solicitor, demanded payment, within four days of the halfyear's rent which fell due on the 1st May last, under threat of immediate and expensive proceedings in the Law Courts, no other arrear being due; and, whether the Government have represented, or will represent, to any such landlords the mischief and danger to the public peace of adopting unusual proceedings at a time like the present in that country, and will refuse their countenance and support to such proceedings? MR. TOTTENHAM: I should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman, before he answers the Question, a Question of which I have given him private Notice, Whether he is aware that the tenant of |