of alleged injury to the fishery. It was therefore thought advisable to continue the late lessee-who, having been the highest bidder, had held the fishery for several successive periods-in occupation for three years more at the same rent, which is the highest ever obtained, he giving an undertaking that he would not seek for compensation on account of any effect produced by the works of improvement in the river.

TUNIS-POLITICAL AND JUDICIAL

OFFENCES.

SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether, henceforward, British subjects having causes or actions against Tunisian subjects at Constantinople and other places within the Ottoman Dominions will have to bring such actions in the French Consular Courts; and, whether the appeal from such Courts lies to the Tribunal at Aix, in Provence, and, in case British subjects succeed in gaining such causes, under what Treaty or Capitulation the sentences will be carried into execution?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: Sir, the appeal from French Consular Courts in the Levant lies to Aix. Points closely connected with the first portion of the hon. Member's Question are now engaging the earnest attention of Her Majesty's Government.

SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF: Are these very questions engaging the attention of the Government?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: Yes.

BOARD OF WORKS (IRELAND)—THE LIMERICK HARBOUR COMMISSIONERS.

sioners, or any other person purporting to act on their behalf, to the Board of Works, and the replies thereto, with the case submitted to the Counsel of the Board of Works, and any documents therein referred to, and Counsel's opinion thereon?

LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH: Sir, the Board of Works, acting on legal advice, have declined to make the loan applied for by the Limerick Harbour Commissioners for the purpose of building labourers' dwellings. Counsel's opinion was founded in part on the assumption that those Commissioners did not of

themselves employ labourers; this was inferred from the statement put forward in their Memorial applying for the loan. It is not usual or convenient to publish cases laid before counsel; and I do not think the importance of the other Papers is such as would justify the Treasury in presenting them to Parliament. If, however, the hon. Member will call upon me at the Treasury, I shall be happy to show him the Correspondence.

POST OFFICE-TELEGRAPHIC COMMU.
NICATION WITH SHETLAND.

MR. LAING asked the Postmaster General, What steps are being taken to restore telegraphic communication with Shetland, which has been for some time interrupted, to the serious detriment of the trade and fisheries of the district; and, whether, when the Post Office has undertaken to provide telegraphic communication for a considerable district, it is their duty to maintain such communication in a state of efficiency, and to restore it without delay if interrupted from unavoidable causes?

sibility, under existing arrangements, of cable ships are abroad. We have now obtaining a cable ship, as all the suitable secured one which is on its way home from the West Indies, and the moment it arrives it will be sent to Shetland.

MR. GABBETT asked the Chief Se- much as my hon. Friend that the cable MR. FAWCETT: Sir, I regret as cretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the Board of Works have to Shetland has not been restored. The lately refused to lend the Harbour Com-delay has been occasioned by the imposmissioners of Limerick money to build labourers' dwellings; whether the opinion of Counsel, on which such refusal was founded, was wholly or partially founded on the assumption that the said Commissioners did not employ labourers; if so, on what authority such assumption was based, and who informed the Board of Works that the said Commissioners do not employ labourers; and, if he will lay upon the Table of the House Copies of any memorials or letters addressed by the secretary of the Harbour CommisLord Frederick Cavendish

ARMY-SUPPLIES FOR THE TROOPS

IN IRELAND.

MR. HEALY asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether a Circular was recently addressed from the office of the Commander in Chief in Ireland to officers

ability to find employment for them.

OF OUTRAGES.

MR. E. STANHOPE asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether any representations have been addressed to the Government of the United States as to the preparations being made by an organization in that country for the commission of outrages in different towns in England?

With respect to the employment of THE UNITED STATES-ORGANIZATION officers in positions unsuited to their rank, this can only apply to regimental employment. In the 105 corps of Cavalry and Infantry in the Bengal Presidency, including the regiments under the direct authority of the Viceroy in Council, there are only 18 officers in positions which may not with advantage and entire propriety be held by field officers. They are all majors, and a great number of them do actually hold, temporarily, squadrons or wing commands. Of the 37 Bombay regiments, there are but four majors actually serving with corps in the position of captains out of 15 attached to such positions in The Army List. In the 45 regiments of the Madras Army, there are, out of 71 field officers shown as filling captains' positions, only 41 actually so employed. Accordingly, so far from there being

MR. GLADSTONE: I am not precisely aware in what sense it is that my hon Friend uses the words

"Preparations being made by an organization in that country for the commission of outrages in different towns in England." What we are cognizant of consists, in the first place, of incitements in the public Press, connected undoubtedly with the collection of money, which may probably be directed to the purpose of giving effect to those incitements. They 1,200 field officers whose services are are by no means limited to the commisnot required by the State, and who sion of outrages in different towns in occupy positions unsuited to their rank, England; but they indicate particular there are only 33 officers of the first individuals and give some of them concategory, or, reckoning those at home siderable prominence. I think that on special furlough, 53, and between 50 being the state of the case as to the and 60 majors doing the duty which facts, what I have to say in answer to would otherwise be done by captains the Question is that, viewing the nature or subalterns. This cannot be said to of these extraordinary productions, we constitute a heavy financial burden. thought it our duty to bring them to the LORD ELCHO wished to know whe-knowledge of the Government of the ther the attention of the noble Marquess United States, and that we have done. had been called to the fact that a striking disparity existed between the pension and retirement regulations of the Staff Corps of the Indian Army and those of the new Line regiments?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON: I have already stated that there is under consideration a revised scale of pensions for the Indian Staff Corps which will be got out in a very short time. The conditions of service between the officer of the new Line Corps and the Staff Corps differ so radically that no comparison can be drawn between the scales suitable to either. The new Line Corps officers are subjected to compulsory retirement during various periods of their service. The Staff Corps officer can claim to continue his service until he obtains colonel's allowances, over £1,100 a-year. The new pension scale for the Staff Corps will, it is believed, be found adequate to meet the fair requirements of the service and claims of the off

cers.

The Marquess of Hartington

ARMY RE-ORGANIZATION - LORD

AIREY'S COMMITTEE. SIR HARRY VERNEY asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he will lay upon the Table of the House a Paper stating the important particulars, if there are such, in which the new organisation of the Army differs from the recommendations of Lord Airey's Commission?

MR. CHILDERS: Sir, in reply to my hon. and gallant Friend I am afraid that I could hardly make a formal Return as to the "important" differences between the recommendations made by Lord Airey's Committee and those contained in my two Memoranda without raising a question as to the word "important." The Report of Lord Airey's Committee is on the Table, and its conclusions can be compared by my hon. and gallant Friend with those of the two Memoranda. But, perhaps, I may

say in general terms that the two great | ceived from the Lieutenant Governor of differences between the proposals are British Honduras to the Despatch transthat Lord Airey's Committee proposed mitting a Memorial from certain inhabito increase the soldier's contract of ser- tants of that Colony, and calling for an vice to 14 years, 8 with the Colours; explanation; and, whether Papers on whereas we leave it at 12 years, 7 to 8 the subject will be laid upon the Table? with the Colours; and that Lord Airey's Committee proposed to abolish the two battalion system, breaking up the first 25 regiments and the rifle regiments, unlinking the rest, and adding 15,000 men to the Army; whereas I have carried linking to its legitimate result, the universal double-battalion system, with an addition of some 2,000 men only.

CITY OF LONDON-THE MAGISTRACY

-ELECTION OF AN ALDERMAN.

MR. FIRTH asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to a

contest about to take place for the

Aldermanic Chair in the Ward of Queenhithe, in the City of London; whether he is aware that the whole number of electors in the Ward is only 273, but that the person elected becomes ipso facto a judge at the Central Criminal Court, and a magistrate for life; and, whether, in order to obviate the disadvantages of having judicial offices open to public election, and such offices filled by persons devoid of legal knowledge and experience, he is prepared to amend the provisions of 4 and 5 Will. 4, c. 36, 8. 1 (Central Criminal Court Act), so as

to exclude City Aldermen from the position of Judges in the Central Criminal Court, and also to extend to the City of London the system of qualified stipendiary magistracy which exists in the Metropolis outside the City?

MR. GRANT DUFF: Sir, some further despatches have been received from the Governor, and the Papers will now be presented very shortly.

ARMY-ROYAL HIBERNIAN MILITARY
SCHOOL, DUBLIN.

MR. W. CORBET asked the Secretary of State for War, What is the result, if any, of the inquiry held some months ago regarding the alleged illtreatment of the pupils of the Royal ther he can now lay the Report, which Hibernian Military School; and, wheit is understood has been printed and privately circulated, upon the Table of

the House?

hon. Member I have to state that, as I
MR. CHILDERS: Sir, in reply to the
informed the House on the 3rd of May,
the Report of the Committee appointed by
Sir Thomas Steele had been transmitted
by me to the Governors; but that, con-
trary to my expectations, they have not
yet favoured me with their remarks on
the subject. They are not under my
unless I receive their Report by a day
control; but I have informed them that
which I have named I shall have to
take action without it. I can say nothing
Papers on the Table.
at present about laying any of these

ARMY-MILITIA SUBALTERNS. SIR EDWARD WATKIN asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether at SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT: Sir, least twenty-five of the Militia Subalthe Question which the hon. Member terns eligible for September by having asks me is part of a great question passed the Civil Service examinations which I hope this House will before are at their "last chance," as, after Seplong have time to address itself to. Itember, they will be too old; and, whemean the reform of the municipal go-ther, in such cases, he will permit an vernment of London. I hope that extra "chance" to be given in alleviamatter will be dealt with before long; tion of the hardship caused by giving but I do not think it is possible to deal 110 places in September 1880. with the particular question to which he refers apart from the consideration of

that matter as a whole.

BRITISH HONDURAS.

SIR HENRY HOLLAND asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether any reply has been re

MR. CHILDERS: Sir, I have been, in common with my advisers at the War Office, much puzzled by my hon. Friend's Question. So far from the giving of 110 places in September, 1850, having been a hardship, it has really greatly assisted the chances of the present competitors, by withdrawing so many eligible candi

dates from the following examinations. | request, and I have already given inI will consider my hon. Friend's sugges- structions on the subject. tion after the September examination; but as it might have the effect of admitting the most unfit of all recent candidates, I can say nothing more now.

FOREIGN JEWS IN RUSSIA EXPUL-
SION OF A NATURALIZED BRITISH

SUBJECT.

BULGARIA (POLITICAL AFFAIRS).

MR. LABOUCHERE asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the Reports of Mr. Lascelles respecting the action of Prince Alexander of Battenburg in Bulgaria, toBARON HENRY DE WORMS asked gether with the protest of Her Majesty's the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Government against it; also, whether Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Govern- certain ex-Ministers of Bulgaria have ment have been advised by their legal appealed by telegram to the Prime Miadviser at St. Petersburg, that the ex-nister to express sympathy with them pulsion of Mr. Lewisohn, a British sub- in their efforts to maintain the constiject, from Russia last year by the Go-tution of their country; and, whether vernment of Russia was a violation of any reply has been given to that Russian Law? appeal?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: Sir, successive Governments have held, with the acquiescence of Parliament, that the legal advice which they receive is of a confidential character, that it cannot be produced, and that it is the Department concerned which is responsible for the decision which, founded upon such advice, is taken. A Report has been received from the counsel to the Embassy at St. Petersburg. That Report has necessitated a request for further information from Mr. Lewisohn, and the Law Officers of the Crown have not yet reported upon the case, and the House would blame me for creating a new and bad precedent of giving piecemeal and premature information of the legal advice we have received. Such a course would not further the object which Her Majesty's Government and the hon. Member have in common-namely, to secure, as far as International Law permits, that justice be done to our Jewish fellow-countrymen in foreign countries. No unnecessary delay will occur in giving full information to the House.

POST OFFICE-POSTCARDS.

MR. JAMES HOWARD asked the Postmaster General, Whether he will obtain specimens of the Post Cards, Home and Foreign, of the several Countries which have adopted them, with a view to their being exhibited in the Library of the House, and the consideration of any improvements in our own Post Cards?

MR. FAWCETT: Sir, I shall be very happy to accede to the hon. Member's

Mr. Childers

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: Sir, the Correspondence with Her Majesty's Agent at Sofia will be laid upon the Table of the House. No intimation has been received that any foreign intervention is contemplated in the event of Prince Alexander not receiving a majority of votes in favour of his proposal. A telegram has been received by the Prime Minister from M. Zankoff and three other ex-Ministers containing an appeal to the British nation. The Prime Minister has replied that the subject of the recent transactions in Bulgaria is attracting the continuing interest of Her Majesty's Government, as may be perceived from the proceedings in Parliament, but that he cannot with advantage carry on a personal correspondence apart from his Colleague the Foreign Secretary.

LORD JOHN MANNERS asked whether the hon. Baronet would supplement the answer he had given by stating whether any protest had been sent against the action of the Prince of Bulgaria?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: Sir, I cannot say anything further than what I stated in previous answers. First, I was asked by two hon. Members whether we had made any protest against the main proceedings of the Prince of Bulgaria; and I replied that Her Majesty's Government had not been called upon to express an opinion; but on a later occasion, when asked a specific Question with regard to military courts martial, I stated that a representation with regard to that matter had been made.