the new arrangements. He now moved for leave to bring in a similar Bill, not anticipating any objection on the part of the Government; but he might observe that he intended to carry restriction and reform a little further than in the previous measure. He proposed to reduce the days of polling from two days to one, and the period that elapsed between the nomination and the day of polling from two to one. He proposed also that the declaration of the poll should take place one day after the polling. Motion made, and Question proposed, That leave be given to bring in the Bill.' perintendence of all the Coroners through- Motion, by leave, withdrawn. COUNTY ELECTIONS POLLS. LORD ROBERT GROSVENOR begged to move for leave to bring in a Bill to restrict the duration of polling for County Elections in England and Wales. It would be in the recollection of the House that at the close of the last Parliament he had moved for leave to bring in a Bill to restrict the days of polling in Counties from two days to one, and that Bill had obtained a first and second reading, and had passed through Committee. The Government, however, had thrown out the measure on the third reading, not because they objected to the principle of it, but because it was contended that the time intervening before the general election was so short that opportunity could not be afforded for MR. PALMER did not rise to oppose the Motion, but he would observe that there was a considerable difference between this Bill and the one of last year. He acquiesced in the Bill of last year with some degree of doubt. He had had some little experience of county elections, and was very much inclined to think that it would be undesirable to adopt the proposition of the noble Lord. At times it would be exceedingly inconvenient to pin down the electors to one day. He would give an instance in his own county, where a poll was demanded without any one expecting it, and it happened that on one of the polling-days an important fair was held in the neighbourhood, which many of the voters were very anxious to attend, and consequently were incapacitated from performing their electoral duties. He had conversed with many of the electors on this subject, and they were of opinion that the change might be attended with considerable inconvenience. MR. HUME would say, that the cases mentioned by the hon. Gentleman might easily be provided for by the sheriffs not fixing upon inconvenient days. The sheriffs ought to know when fairs took place, and not fix such days for polling. MR. WALPOLE said, he thought that, seeing leave was given by the last Parlia ment to bring in a Bill somewhat similar to this, and that it even went to the third reading, it would be ungracious towards the noble Lord the Member for Middlesex to refuse him leave to bring in the present Bill. There were two points, however, he wished the House to bear in mind: the first was, that the objection taken on the part of the Government to the Bill of last Session was, that a sufficient opportunity was not given to Counties to provide poliing places, so that every voter should have an opportunity of recording his vote. It was a matter of great importance that pro- | be made in reference to the same Courts; vision should be made for enabling all the and similar difficulties had been experienced votes in every County to be taken. The in obtaining those returns from some of other point was, that the noble Lord was the Courts, whilst others of them had made now going to add to the Bill a new provi- no return whatever. The fact was that sion, namely, that the period between the some of these returns were not made until nomination and the day of the polling the 10th of May, 1852, exactly nine months should be reduced from two days to one. after they had been called for by the House. He thought that was a matter which would | He thought that when an order was made require great consideration. They must by that House, either through the medium remember that there was a great difference of an Address to the Crown, or directly between boroughs and counties in that re- by the House, the persons to whom such spect. In the boroughs the voters were order was sent ought to obey it. And no all living either within the bounds or in the return having been made by the Ecclesiasneighbourhood; but in counties the voters tical Courts of Rochester, he had no hesihad their residence sometimes at a great tation in submitting this Motion to the distance, and assuredly every portion of a House, in order that the information in County ought to have an opportunity of question might be obtained. He would knowing whether more than one candidate also take that opportunity of stating that had been put up on the day of nomination, should that order not be complied with, he in order that the voters might have an op- should take further steps to compel a comportunity of coming up and recording their pliance with it. votes. He only pointed out these things in order that the noble Lord might have no reason to complain, should he find the Government opposing the Bill when it was brought forward. LORD ROBERT GROSVENOR said, that he thought that, whenever the discussion came on, he should be able to satisfy the House that the further changes he proposed were necessary. Leave given. ROCHESTER CONSISTORY COURT, &c. SIR BENJAMIN HALL said, he rose to move for a return of the appointment of Officers in the Consistory Court, Rochester, and also in the Archdeacon's Court in the same city. He apprehended there would be little or no objection to his Motion; but, inasmuch as the dignity and character of that House was in some measure concerned, he would state the reasons which had induced him to put the notice upon the paper. On the 2nd May, 1850, that House resolved that an Address should be presented to Her Majesty, praying Her Majesty that certain returns might be made in reference to the Ecclesiastical Courts; and he was informed by the officers connected with the Government of that day, that they had the very greatest difficulty in obtaining the papers from the Officers of those Courts so much so, that thirteen months elapsed before they were. presented to the House. Another Address was agreed to by the House on the 7th August, 1851, praying Her Majesty to order that certain further returns might MR. WALPOLE said, a return had been laid on the table of the House with the fullest information on the subject of the Ecclesiastical Courts of which the Government were in possession; and he could account for the absence of the returns of which the hon. Baronet complained only in this way. Several returns of that kind had been moved for by the hon. Baronet, and the officers thinking they had already made those returns in full, had neglected to continue the returns which were subsequently asked for. He was further informed that a return which had been moved for by the hon. Baronet in 1849, was presented to the House, and that the hon. Baronet never moved that it should be printed. If the hon. Gentleman would now move to have that return printed, he would gain from it fuller information than he could have from the return which he now asked for. SIR B. HALL said, he apprehended that the right hon. Gentleman was under a mistake. During the Session of 1849, he (Sir B. Hall) was unable to attend the House except on one day; he had not made any Motion on the subject except in the years to which he had referred, and the officers of the Ecclesiastical Court of Rochester had made no return whatever to those Motions. Motion agreed to. DAY MAIL TO LEICESTER. MR. FREWEN said, that the House was doubtless aware, from the statements which had recently appeared in the public prints, that great injury had been done to certain lines of railway within the last few days, in consequence of the heavy rains, and in certain districts great inconvenience was occasioned, not only by the stopping of the regular communications, but also by the delay of the usual mails. It appeared to him that there was some want of proper caution on the part of the Post Office authorities in not forwarding the mails with that expedition which they might have used; for even though some of the great lines had been damaged, the mails should have been forwarded in the old way-by the turnpike roads-until they had reached such parts of the railway as might be made available for communicating with the metropolis. During the last week several lines of railway in the Midland Counties were, he believed, stopped, in consequence of the damage that was done to them. At one place in particular within about four or five miles of Leicester a viaduct was carried away, which was not likely to be restored for about a fortnight or three weeks. The greatest inconvenience had arisen, in consequence, to the people of Leicester, from the non-adoption of proper measures for the forwarding of the mails by some other route. He knew himself of letters containing intelligence of the deepest importance and interest, posted in Leicester on Friday, not reaching London until Monday morning. The day mail, which was forwarded from London on Saturday morning, did not reach Leicester until seven o'clock in the evening. Now where there was another line open, the mails might have been conveyed at almost the same degree of speed with which they were forwarded for many years past. He was informed that the great line of communication near Tamworth had been stopped by an injury which had occurred to a bridge in the neighbourhood. He wished to call public attention to the subject, and more particularly to urge that everything should be done to facilitate the conveyance of the mails. He should conclude by moving that the Postmaster General be requested to order that the day mail between London and Leicester should be conveyed by way of Peterborough, Stamford, and Melton Mowbray, until the line of railway between Leicester and Rugby (which has been stopped in consequence of the injury done to it, caused by the late heavy rains) be re-opened. MR. G. A. HAMILTON said, he was sure that the House would not agree in the terms of this Motion when he informed them that the fact was, the Post Office authorities had used the greatest possible exertions to expedite the conveyance of the mails. He had just received a communication which stated that the day mail from Leicester had arrived on that day without the delay of a single hour. Under such circumstances he thought that the hon. Gentleman would not think it necessary to persevere in his Motion. Motion, by leave, withdrawn. INDIAN TERRITORIES. MR. HERRIES moved that the Select Committee on Indian Territories do consist of thirty-one Members. SIR HENRY WILLOUGHBY begged to suggest that the name of Sir Thomas Herbert Maddock be added to the Committee, as the hon. Member was thoroughly conversant with the subject, having resided for several years in India. MR. JOHN MACGREGOR said, he had intended to move the addition of two or three names to the Committee, in order that the great commercial ports might be represented; but when he saw the names of the eminent persons nominated, he thought it unnecessary to persist in that intention. MR. HUME said, he thought that all the new Members of the Committee should be put into possession of the whole evidence which had come before the former Committee on this subject. He wished to know whether any steps had been taken by the Government towards effecting this object? SIR THOMAS MADDOCK said, he would also beg to suggest that natives of India capable of affording valuable information to the Select Committee should be summoned to give evidence before it. He was aware that among the educated inhabitants there was a large proportion of Hindoos who were precluded by the prejudices of caste from undertaking a sea voyage. But there were many who would not be so precluded could give evidence before the Committee; and he imagined with respect to the others that there could be no serions difficulty in obtaining the testimony of those Hindoo gentlemen of attainments and qualifications on the spot in India. That was the more important, because the evidence that had already been given, and the evidence which would in all probability be taken by the present Committee, had been and would be derived from persons who had been officially engaged in the administration of the affairs of India, whether in this country or in that. It might be very useful that the evidence of all experienced persons should be made available for laying down the plan so far as concerned the machinery of Government; but in reference to all those matters which had regard to the welfare and happiness of the people of India, on which it was really the great primary duty of the Government in this country to legislate, their legislation could not be either complete or satisfactory unless the class of natives of India to whom he had referred were furnished with an opportunity of giving evidence before the Committee. MR. HERRIES said, with reference to the suggestion of the hon. Member for Montrose (Mr. Hume), the best mode of proceeding would be to leave the matter to the Committee themselves, who would know what was necessary for the requirements of the House; and with regard to the observations which had fallen from the hon. Member for Rochester (Sir T. Maddock), it would be the duty of the Committee to determine what witnesses they should bring before them, and what evidence bearing upon the inquiry it would be desirable to have. Motion for nominating the Committee was then agreed to. FUNERAL OF THE DUKE OF On the Order of the Day for going into Committee of Supply, MR. HUME said, before the Order of the Day was proceeded with, he wished to state that he had made a request on a former night, that some estimate of the expenses of the funeral of the Duke of Wellington should be laid upon the table of the House. He found, upon referring to the journals of the House, that an estimate was laid on the table by Mr. Vansittart of the expenses of the funeral of Lord Nelson, and also of that of Mr. Pitt. The House was not sitting at the time of Lord Nelson's funeral, and therefore the estimate was not laid on the table until after the occasion; but as the House was now sitting, they ought to have an estimate laid before them. Not that he was desirous to abridge or to throw any difficulty in the way of a public demonstration, but they ought to relieve and disabuse the public mind of the extravagant ideas that had been formed as to the amount of the ex pense. The department upon whom the trust was devolved should be prepared to lay before them an estimate in some degree approximating to the amount. The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEmation given some days ago by his hon. QUER said, he had not forgotten the intiFriend the Member for Montrose, but, from the pressure of circumstances connected with this solemnity, it was quite impossible to lay an estimate before the House. MR. HUME said, that if the public money could not be accounted for, it appeared to him there must be great blame somewhere. The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER said, his hon. Friend had greatly misconstrued what he had stated, in supposing that the public money could not be accounted for. If the public money were expended in this manner, it would be accounted for to the last shilling; but, from the pressure of circumstances, it was impossible at the present moment to lay an estimate before the House. LORD DUDLEY STUART thought the House had heard a most extraordinary statement from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and that they had been treated in a most extraordinary way by the refusal given to the request of his hon. Friend that an estimate should be laid on the table of the House. With regard to the expenses of the funeral of the late Duke of Wellington, all persons in the country were unanimous in wishing, by every possible means, to testify their respect for the memory of that great and illustrious man; but he did not think that respect would in any degree be diminished by the constitutional course of giving to that House, who held the purse strings of the country, an estimate of the probable expense attending the solemnity of Thursday. They all recollected the letter addressed by the Prime Minister to the Home Secretary on the occasion of the death of the Duke. In that letter, which he thought most admirable, and he believed was generally so considered, the reason given for delaying the fune ral from what appeared to be the natural time, shortly after the death of the illustrious hero, was, that it would be better and more constitutional to delay it until Parliament should be assembled, in order that Parliament might give its consent and approbation to the manner in which it was to be performed. He was sorry to see that the proceeding of the Government on this parade, and pomp of a public funeral. He occasion appeared to be like some other of thought all this wore the aspect of impiety their modes of proceeding-not character--it was man paying almost idolatrous ised by much sincerity, but to be something worship to the clay of his fellow worm. of a deceptive character. ["Oh, oh!"] He had availed himself of his privilege as The Prime Minister was for waiting until a Member of that House to witness the Parliament could be consulted, and express ceremony of the lying in state. He did its opinion on the subject. But had Par- so from no idle curiosity, but for the purliament been consulted as to the arrange- pose of observation and reflection; but he ment or expense of this great national so- confessed, when he looked upon all its lemnity? On the contrary, everything had pomp, the feeling in his mind was only been done by prerogativo. All the orders one of deep disgust, to see the clay of a had been given and the expense incurred, departed man hung round with all those and now the House of Commons, after emblems of heraldry, with jewellery and being thus bamboozled-["Oh, oh!"]- emblazonments, as if in mockery, and all was left without information, and had no alternative but to wait until after the expenses were incurred. ["Oh, oh !"] It was all very well for the adherents of the Ministry to cry "Oh, oh!" but he was sure the people were with him, and having to pay the bill, they would say the Government had done wrong in not being prepared to answer the appeal so properly made by his hon. Friend. MR. S. CARTER said, he should be wanting in his duty to his constituents if he did not protest against the doctrine of the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The right hon. Gentleman had delayed the funeral solemnity for more than two months for the purpose of consulting Parliament, and yet was not now prepared to say whether the expenses would be 10,000l. or 100,000l., or whether, as some people said, they would amount to a quarter of a million. It seemed a somewhat invidious and ungracious task to address the House on that subject. But he was bound to say he felt last night he had not done his duty to his own conscience, in not having stood up when the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer poured out, in well-turned periods, his eulogium on the Duke of Wellington, and resisted that which he (Mr. S. Carter) felt to be a national folly-for he could only term a national funeral a national folly. The right hon. Gentleman said the feelings of a great people could only find vent in a splendid pageant. If that was the only way in which they could express their feelings, it would be far better, in his opinion, not to express them at all. He thought it would have been much more to the credit of that House and of the country if the money expended on that funeral had been applied to some object of public usefulness, rather than for the pageantry, to do honour to a being who was placed |