On Monday, May 12, the Earl of GLENGALL
presented a petition from the grand jury of Tipperary,
praying for Protection against the Importation of
Foreign Flour. A long discussion on the thread-bare
question of protection followed, and the petition was
laid on the table.

Lord BROUGHTON, on Tuesday, March 13, moved the
second reading of the Marriages [India] Bill, and
stated that the bill was founded on two principles,—
first, that of legalising marriages which have been duly
celebrated by clergymen of the Established Church, or
dissenting communions in India, and secondly that of
establishing in India the present law of England on the
subject. The bill was read a second time.

On Monday, May 19th, the Marquis of LANSDOWNE
moved the second reading of the Income Tax Bill. He
supported the measure, though it belongs to a system
of taxation to which he is, on general principle, no
friend, in order that our great commercial and
manufacturing prosperity be continued, by the removal of
even more onerous loads of taxation.—Lord STANLEY
recalled the blundering phraseology of the bill,—for
which, he considered, the government subordinates
were blameable, as they should have examined whether
the amendment was consistent with the context; and
then said, that as the peers must reject it altogether, or
take it altogether—blundering as it is—he would not
vote against it. However, the government had to reconsider
the whole subject in the next year; and he
believed they would find it expedient to remove the
greater part of the anomaly and injustice of this
obnoxious tax. The bill was read a second time-without
a division.

On Tuesday, May 20th, Lord WHARNCLIFFE asked
Lord Grey for an explanation of the mode in which the
commission appointed by the government to proceed to
the Cape had been appointed.—Earl GREY explained
that the commission about to be sent to the Cape was
not, strictly speaking, one of inquiry. The two gentlemen
selected were to act as assistant commissioners
under Sir Harry Smith, who was invested with a separate
authority as high commissioner for the adjustment of
claims made for land by the border tribes. The gentlemen
appointed were intimately acquainted with the
habits of the colonists and the natives, and he had no
doubt would be enabled to render Sir H. Smith the
greatest assistance.

On Thursday, May 22nd, the Earl of CARLISLE moved
the second reading of the Episcopal and Capitular
Estates Bill. The Archbishop of Canterbury consented
to the second reading, hoping that the measure might
be amended in committee.—The Bishop of OXFORD
moved as an amendment, that a select committee be
appointed to inquire into the management of the
capitular and episcopal property, giving due regard to
the just and reasonable claims of tenants.—The Earl of
CARLISLE warmly opposed this step, as virtually a defeat
of a bill whose principle seemed to meet general
concurrence. On a division, the second reading was carried,
by 46 to 28.

On Friday, May 23rd, the Bishop of OXFORD asked
the government how far they had carried out, and were
intending to carry out, their alterations in the fundamental
principles of the Administration of Pentonville
Prison.—Earl GREY replied to the effect that the
prison was now upon a somewhat different footing than
when first established. It was then merely an experimental
institution to try the effect of separate confinement,
in order to ascertain whether that system ought
to be generally adopted. The experiment had proved
highly successful, and it was now the policy of the
executive that every criminal should pass through a
period, more or less lengthened, of separate confinement.
The alterations which had been made did not affect the
principle.

On Monday the 26th, Lord ELLENBOROUGH moved
an address to the Crown for the production of papers
relating to the disposal of the booty acquired in the
Punjab, and explanatory of the right of the Crown to
dispose of such booty, it was not the first time that he
had brought this question forward, and though on a
former occasion he had been met by a declaration that
six months' batta would be granted to the troops
engaged in lieu of the booty—a declaration at which he
had too hastily expressed his satisfaction—he had
thought it right to bring the subject before the house
again, because he thought that justice had not been
done to the troops.—Lord BROUGHTON regretted that
the noble Lord should have brought forward this
question again, especially as, having on a former
occasion declared that the troops for whom he pleaded
would have no cause to complain if they got six months'
batta, he now seemed to think that full justice had not
been done them though they had received that amount
of extra pay. The noble Lord proceeded to read the
opinions of the law officers of the Crown, which stated
that the arrangement of which Lord Ellenborough
complained could not be legally impugned, and
concluded by saying that all the returns moved for could
not be produced, but if Lord Ellenborough really
wanted them, some portion of them should be laid before
the house.—After some observations from the Duke of
WELLINGTON to the effect that any assumption of
authority by the Governor-General in India must
necessarily be confirmed by the Government at home—
the Lord CHANCELLOR entered into some explanation
between the Crown and the Maharajah of Lahore; and
after some further discussion it was settled that a part
of the motion should be agreed to, so far as the papers
asked for could be given, and the rest of the motion be
negatived.

The HOUSE OF COMMONS, on Monday, April 28,
resumed its sittings after the Easter Holidays.—The
second reading of The Property-tax Bill having been
moved, Mr. SPOONER moved its being read a second
time that day six months. He argued at great length
against the tax, describing it as pressing most unfairly
upon the agricultural interest, and declaring that a
spirit of opposition to the tax had been excited that
might lead to serious consequences. After bringing
forward former opinions of members of the present
government upon the subject, he said that the time
would come when recent legislation would have to be
rescinded, and when we should resort once more to
indirect taxation.—Mr. MUNTZ seconded the amendment.
—Mr. FRESHFIELD thought that the bill should
be read a second time, with the understanding that it
should be modified in committee. He was disposed to
support the re-imposition of the tax for a limited time,
as he was not prepared to give up a large amount of
income, without seeing what was to be substituted.—
The Chancellor of the EXCHEQUER contended for the
necessity of maintaining the tax, which alone could enable
him to repeal the window and other duties proposed to
be removed. He appealed to the house whether it was
prepared to reverse previous decisions to which it had
come upon the subject of taxation, or to create a
deficiency. He called upon it to reject the amendment,
and announced that he should propose to go into
committee on Friday.—Mr. M'GREGOR supported the
second reading of the bill, but considered the present
schedules iniquitous.—Mr. DISRAELI was not prepared
to vote against the second reading, and, thinking that
Mr. Spooner's objections to the bill might properly be
taken in committee, would advise him not to divide.
—Mr. SPOONER declined to withdraw his motion, which
was accordingly put and negatived.

On Tuesday, April 29, the Sergeant-at-Arms informed
the house that he had been unable to capture any of
the parties charged with kidnapping the witnesses who
should have given evidence before the St. Alban's Election
Committee.—Lord J. RUSSELL gave notice that he should
next day move an address for a proclamation offering
rewards for the apprehension of such persons.—Sir G.
GREY moved for leave to bring in a Bill for the better
supply of Water to the Metropolis. He dwelt upon the
hardships at present experienced for want of a due supply
of pure water, adducing in proof the recommendations
of the Board of Health upon the subject. The
government plan was to amalgamate the nine existing
water companies, and to place them under the control
of a single board. This board was to be subject to the
control of the government. The quarters whence water
was to be, for the future, obtained, were to be decided
on in accordance with the report of the competent