they should conclude a treaty on their own part with General Rosas and the Argentine republic, without waiting for the results of the negotiations with France. By adopting that course, they thought they should be in a better position, having settled their own particular question with General Rosas, to obtain a settlement of the entire dispute between all parties, than if they waited for the negotiations with the French Government. According to the last accounts, these negotiations were going on satisfactorily; and no person was more likely to obtain from General Rosas those small modifications which were required to terminate the dispute, than the officer who was sent out by the French Government to conduct the negotiations. With regard to the safety of British subjects, he had no apprehensions that the British subjects in Monte Video would be exposed to attacks of any kind. They had the guarantee which General Oribe gave them on a former occasion, and which he always considered to be binding upon him. He therefore saw no ground for apprehension to British subjects or British property when the foreign troops were disarmed and the Argentine troops returned from the territory of Monte Video.

BUSINESS OF THE SESSION-PUBLIC

BILLS.

had been only one adjourned debate during the whole Session, and with that exception the speeches in general had been more concise than hitherto. The House also had sat every Government night without being once counted out; and he would call attention to the number of hours they had devoted to public business, and he would instance some days in July. He would take the Mondays and Fridays in July, as they were Government nights. On the first Monday and Friday in July the House sat 19 hours; on the second Monday and Friday, 24 hours; on the third Monday and Friday, 22 hours; and on the fourth Monday and Friday, 25 hours and 20 minutes. The total number of hours they had sat during the Session was 1,041; they had had 149 sittings; and they had sat now for 25 weeks, exclusive of the holidays; and, allowing 100 hours for the Wednesday sittings, for four days every week they had sat during the whole of that Session, ten hours and a half a-day. This was all totally independent of the Committees which sat in the mornings, and in the deliberations of which their constituents were often deeply interested. The House had frequently sat at twelve o'clock at noon, and having adjourned over an hour or two in the afternoon, they resumed again in the evening, and continued sitting till two and even three o'clock in the morning. Now the inference he drew from all this was, that it was impossible for men, however great might be their intellectual or their physical strength, to devote so many hours to the performance of their duty to their constituents, unless some better ar

SIR B. HALL rose, pursuant to notice, to call the attention of the House to a return headed "Public Bills," lately printed by order of the House. It was not his intention to enter into a review of the foreign or domestic policy of the Government; his only object was to call the at-rangement was made for the conduct of tention of the House to what had been the public business. He did not want to find conduct of public business during the pre- fault with the Government in this matter; sent Session, and merely with the view of he knew their position with regard to it placing the subject before the House, in was one of difficulty; but if they would order that they might not in another Ses- consider the subject during the recess, and sion of Parliament have their time so com- make suggestions when Parliament reaspletely taken up as it had been this Ses- sembled, or recommend the appointment sion, and also that they might have what of a Select Committee to inquire into it, time was taken up better occupied than it greater facilities would be afforded for the had been during the present Session. He transaction of the business of the country, never knew any Session of Parliament and great convenience rendered to Memsince the passing of the Reform Act in bers of Parliament. They could not spend which there had been a more anxious de-all their time within the walls of that sire to transact and get through the business than during the present Session; and he had observed also that the debates had not been adjourned, with the exception of the foreign policy debate, lasting for four nights, and in which twenty-five Members spoke during thirty-eight hours. There

House; they had all other duties out of the House to perform; but at present it was impossible for any Member to obtain time for despatching any private business, or for purposes of relaxation or enjoyment. He found that last year the House sat 932 hours, and the Government passed 89

Bills; and this year, up to the 9th of Au- | brought in on the 25th April; the second gust, they had sat very much longer and reading was deferred three times, the cononly passed 58 Bills, and this notwith-sideration in Committee was deferred fourstanding the prevalence of a greater desire teen times; and the Bill, brought in on the to get through with the business. He had 25th April, lingered to the 29th July, and moved for a return of the Bills brought then was withdrawn. Now, he said that, in during the present Session, and he would in such cases, it was better that the Goallude to the document to show the pro- vernment should not bring in his Bills at gress that had been made with some of the all, unless they really intended to perseBills introduced, and the manner in which vere in carrying them through. The Highthey were disposed of. He would show ways Bill was brought in on the 13th that it was utterly impossible to know when February; the Committee was deferred no important Bills would come on, or the way less than thirteen times, and the Bill linin which they would be proceeded with. gered on to the 12th July, and then was Ninety-five Bills had been brought in by withdrawn. The same thing was the case the Government. He would take a few with the Incorporation of Boroughs Bill. from the return. There was the Appoint- The Landlord and Tenant (Ireland) Bill ment to Offices Bill. It was brought in was brought in on the 18th of February, on the 9th of July, was read a second the second reading was deferred fifteen time on the 12th of July; the Committee times, and a single word had not been was postponed five times, and now they heard about it since that time down to the did not hear anything of it. The Brick 1st of August, up to which date the return Duties Bill was brought in on the 18th of was made. Again, there was the Lord March, and passed without much opposi- Lieutenancy Abolition Bill, brought in by tion. The Charitable Trusts Bill was the noble Lord on the 17th of May, and brought in on the 8th of February, the read a second time on the 17th of June. second reading was deferred eleven times, It was almost unanimously agreed to by the Committee was deferred thirteen differ- the House, only thirteen or fourteen Mement times; the number of times it stood bers opposing it, and yet three whole as amended to be considered was four nights were taken up in discussing the times; the third reading was deferred five measure, when the time might easily have times; and thus a Bill brought in on Feb- been much more usefully occupied. Neverruary 8, lingered till the 25th of July. theless, this Bill meeting with so little opThe Chief Justices Salaries Bill was position, and which might have been carbrought in on the 11th March, was consid-ried, was withdrawn on the 4th July, and ered in Committee on the 25th, as amend- thus all the time the House had occupied ed to be considered it was deferred eleven was utterly wasted. The Marlborough times, and no more was heard of it until House Bill was brought in on the 30th of the 1st of August. The Duke of Cam-July, and it was an instance of how a Bill bridge's Annuity Bill was brought in on could readily be passed by the Government the 22nd of July, and run through the when they showed a firm determination to House; and one remarkable fact was, that persevere with it; for there was no doubt it where the Government had shown a strong would become law. The Mercantile Madesire and intention to carry any Bill, they rine Bill was brought in on the 11th Febinvariably carried it; and when they had ruary, and the second reading was deferred shown vacillation and indecision, the Bill five times; but without even being read a had gone on from time to time, and vari- second time it was withdrawn on the 19th ous postponements took place, so that Bills April, and another Bill was obliged to be introduced at the beginning of February introduced after all the discussion that had lingered to the present month. Then there taken place on the first Bill. The Merwas another Bill placed on the table; and chant Seamen's Bill was brought in on the he mentioned this, and other instances, to 11th February, and the second reading show how much time had been taken up was deferred no less than fifteen times, by the introduction of Bills that were never and Members might have come down fifintended to be carried through; and then, teen different days expecting to discuss having been introduced, indecision was this Bill; but at last, after lingering from shown about them, and after remaining the 11th February, it was withdrawn on among the Orders of the Day for an almost the 8th July. Then there was another indefinite period, they were at length struck Bill of nearly the same character-the off. The Fees (Court of Chancery) Bill was Merchants' Shipping Bill-brought in on

the same day as the preceding measure, gered till the 29th July); the Metropolitan but withdrawn on the 19th April. The Interments Bill, and the Parliamentary next Bill was one that showed again how Voters (Ireland) Bill. But he must allude the Government could pass a measure to another measure which furnished a furthrough whenever they were determined. He alluded to the Metropolitan Interments Bill, with which the Government having determined that nothing should interfere, it was of course passed. Then came the Oath of Abjuration (Jews) Bill, about which he would say little, because the subject had been so recently debated; but this Bill was brought in on the 30th of May; the second reading was deferred four times; and (as the House would have a full recollection) on the 22nd of July it was withdrawn. Then the Parochial Assessment Bill was brought in on the 8th of April, it never went to a second reading, but remained on the Order table for three months. The Public Health (Scotland) Bill was brought in on the 6th of March, it was read a second time on the 12th of April; the Committee was deferred five times, and ultimately the Bill was withdrawn. The Railway Audit Bill was a case of precisely the same nature. Then came the Savings Banks Bill, which was brought in on the 29th April, it stood eleven times for a second reading, and no notice whatever had been taken of it up to the 1st of August. The Stamp Duties Bill was another remarkable case. It was brought in on the 22nd March, and lingered on to the 10th May, when it was put off for six months. Now, here was a Bill of really very great importance-he meant the Woods and Forests Bill. A Committee sat two years on the subject; and if ever a measure ought to be brought under the consideration of that House to correct the abuses of a department of the State, it was this Bill for the better management of the Woods and Forests. It was introduced by the noble Lord on the 22nd February, its second reading was deferred fifteen times, and it lingered from the 22nd February till the 4th July, when it was abandoned for the Session. Now what was the summary of the Bills they had passed in the present Session-the most laborious Session, he ventured to say, that was ever known in this country? The returns made up to the 1st of August showed that they had passed the Australian Colonies Bill, which was introduced on the 11th of February; also the Brick Duties Bill, which was unopposed; the Charitable Trusts Bill; the Mercantile Marine Bill (which was brought in on the 11th February, and lin

ther proof of how the Government could pass a measure when they showed their determination to do so. He meant the Ecclesiastical Commission Bill, which came down from the House of Lords; and although it encountered considerable opposition in that House, yet, owing to the spirit of perseverance evinced by the Government, they had succeeded in carrying their measure through. Now, the course that he hoped the House would take was this-really to consider the serious evils which they suffered from this mode of conducting the public business; and he hoped the Government, as he might say the managers of public business, would devise some arrangement that would afford relief to themselves as well as to the independent Members of the House. He believed that fifty-eight measures this Session had been introduced by private Members, and up to the 1st August eighteen of them had passed, or only about one-third of the whole. Now, as he had said before, one of the great evils of this system was that the House hardly ever knew what business was likely to come on at any particular time, and Members came down and were obliged to wait night after night and hour after hour in a state of uncertainty as to what questions were to be taken, especially on Government nights; for on other nights private Members had no right to take the notices out of their regular order on the paper. Having made these remarks, he would repeat that he believed the number of Bills of a really useful nature which they had passed this Session would make a very bad show for the number of hours they had been occupied with legislation. He believed, indeed, that when Parliament came to prorogue, they would have sat more hours and have done less in the present Session than during any Session preceding. He had avoided going into the question of the general policy of the Government, domestic or foreign; his only desire being to bring in review before the House the mode in which its time had been occupied, with the view, if possible, of leading to some practical amendment in the system of conducting the business of the country.

Motion made, and Question proposed

"That there be laid before this House a Re

turn, in continuation of Parliamentary Paper, No.

671, of the present Session, headed 'Public Bills,' | the Ordnance Estimates to consider, and to be made up to the present time." then came the Miscellaneous Estimates, which were pretty certain, every time they came before the House, to give rise to some very miscellaneous debates. These must take up a considerable part of the Session, and when he observed that in the course of a month Government had only ten nights, it was obvious that more than one month on the part of Government was taken up by the Estimates, which must be brought forward, as the supplies depended upon them. Whatever other objects they had in view, Government must therefore give up a month at least, or probably five or six weeks, to the Estimates, in order to obtain the necessary supplies. He thought, considering these circumstances, the importance of the subjects brought forward for discussion, and the stand that had been taken with respect to several of them, that, if anything was surprising in the matter, it was that the House had been enabled, by its devotion to public business, to get through so many important Bills in all their stages. The hon. Baronet had observed-and he (Lord J. Russell) was not saying that such cases did not occur— that several Bills which had been introduced had not been proceeded with; but then there were various circumstances which might always account for some Bills not being pressed forward. The Government thinking a measure likely to be useful to the public interest brought it into Parliament. There hon. Members took a different view of the measure, and it was withdrawn; or, again, it might be that there was a strong impression out of doors that it should not be proceeded with, and it was consequently abandoned. For instance, there was the Bill of the late Government with respect to education, which was introduced into the House, after some discussion altered and amended, and finally given up. His opinion was, that Government was not in the least to blame for bringing forward that measure, or for giving it up. He had looked upon it, when first introduced, as a useful Bill for a useful purpose, but there was a popular impression against it, and it would have been useless to proceed with it. He could not conceive how it was possible for any Government to foresee the result in that House, or the impression on the part of the public, which might occur with respect to Bills which they brought forward. In the course of his remarks the hon. Baronet had alluded to the Landlord and Ten

LORD J. RUSSELL said, that the hon. Baronet had entirely confined himself to the mode of conducting public business, and had not entered into the question of the policy of different measures; but at the same time he (Lord J. Russell) could not say he agreed with the hon. Baronet in the general tenour of the remarks he had made to the House. It appeared to him that the House had really conducted an amount of public business such as he believed no assembly in the world had ever conducted before, and, whatever might have been the case in one or two Sessions, the present Session certainly afforded an example of great attention to public business, and of but few departures from the general understanding to facilitate the passage of useful Bills as speedily as possible. It should not have been forgotten that a portion of the Session had been occupied with a question on which the House had gone over the whole foreign policy of Government, and it was obvious that the principal speakers could not dispose of so important a subject without going into it at considerable length. The hon. Baronet had said, much to his (Lord J. Russell's) surprise, that hon. Members were not aware of the precise business to be brought forward, especially on Government nights. Now, that certainly might have been the case some years ago, for then, when there were twenty or thirty notices on the paper, the Minister might have brought any of them forward without notice; but that was no longer the case. He (Lord J. Russell) had been the first to alter that custom, and he had introduced the practice of giving notice and of printing in the Votes with the Orders of the Day those Bills, naming two or three especially which were likely to occupy the greater part of the time of the House, to be brought in before the other orders. The Government, not confining themselves to that notice, had made a still further regulation, by which the Orders of the Day were taken on Government nights in the order in which they stood upon the paper--a regulation which was of some inconvenience to the Government, but of obvious advantage to the House. The hon. Baronet had also omitted to state that in the course of the Session the Government must occupy a very large number of nights in the discussion of the Estimates. They had the Navy Estimates, the Army Estimates, and

ant Bill for Ireland. Now, that was a but with views in favour of different prosubject very much considered, and it had posals, and while these proposals were occupied the Cabinet for seven or eight being considered it was desirable and reameetings, at which the whole subject was sonable those Bills should be withdrawn ; under consideration. The Bill was then but he could not think that time had been brought forward; it had been sent to a quite lost, for when Bills of that kind were Committee chiefly of Irish Members, who brought forward, very often, in the course sat for several weeks, and finally reported of discussion by a Committee of the House, upon it. No more consideration could a way was at length discovered by which have been given to a Bill; but certainly many considerable difficulties might be when it was brought forward in the course obviated. He knew certainly those Bills of the present Session, and when the mea- often took very considerable time. Let sure went to Ireland, it was seen the mea- them them take, as an example, the case sure was not likely to produce satisfaction, of the County Courts Bill. One would and that its working would not be in all suppose it would only be necessary to state probability advantageous. He did not see that its object was to extend the local adhow it was possible for any person, whe- ministration of justice, and to render it ther a Member of Government or a private cheaper and more accessible, for ParliaMember, to foresee the exact public impres- ment to receive it with general assent. sion which would be created by any Bill, or And yet what were the facts? His late whether it might or might not be advisable lamented Friend Earl Spencer, had, in to press it. As to another Bill, that for the the year 1823 or 1824, he believed, or abolition of the Lord Lieutenancy of Ireland, some year about that time, when Mr. Canhe had stated his reasons for bringing for- ning was the leading Minister, introduced ward the measure on its reduction. Those a measure on the principle of the county reasons had been, he thought, generally courts. It had been improved by every approved of by the House, by the people one, amended by every one, and dropped of this country, and in the other parts of year after year. He had introduced it the united kingdom. But then arose the himself, and several hon. Members at difquestion of the appointment of the Fourth ferent times had done the same; but still Secretary of State, with respect to which it did not pass into a law till the late Adconsiderable doubts were entertained. He ministration took it up, and in 1846, after had no doubt on that subject himself; but some twenty-three years' discussion, the he found that there were such doubts on Bill at last became law. If the hon. Bathe part of hon. Members, and of persons ronet would say that every Government whose opinion was entitled to attention. was to blame from 1823 to 1846, it might When he was about to proceed with that be so-it might be that if the hon. Bameasure, and with several other Bills-one ronet was Minister he would define at of which was a measure for the admission once, not only the proper measures, but of Jews into Parliament-he found a fort- all the details, which would be exceptionnight in the Session taken up with a de- able, or which would meet the assent of bate on foreign affairs. That completely both Houses of Parliament. Such a thing changed the position of affairs; if he had might be possible; but it certainly had not been able to send up the Bill for the aboli- occurred in his (Lord J. Russell's) memory, tion of the Lord Lieutenancy, even in the though many able men had been at the middle of July, to the other House, he head of affairs during that period. With might have proceeded with it; but if it respect to the Woods and Forests, the was sent up at the beginning of August, Bill was founded on the views taken by a it was obvious there would be reasons Committee of the House; but after the given in the House of Lords, not against Bill had been introduced, a change took the Bill itself, but against considering a place inthe office of Chief Commissioner, measure of such importance at so late a and he (Lord J. Russell) thought it desiperiod of the Session. There were several rable that his noble Friend the Member other Bills to which similar remarks had for Totness, who had shown so much been made by the hon. Baronet, to which ability and judgment as Chairman of the similar objections would apply. As to the Committee on the Army and Navy EstiCourt of Chancery Bill, and another Bill mates, should have full time to make any to which the hon. Baronet had alluded, suggestions which his judgment and expethere had been a Committee sitting up-rience might enable him to offer, and that stairs with views not entirely different, it would be better to give his noble Friend