to support the proposed duty as an additional tax, but
preferred it to the newspaper stamp, and thought the
alternative deserved serious consideration from the
house and the government.—Mr. SCULLY approved of
the suggested tax upon its own merits.—The resolution
was opposed by Mr. M. Brown, Mr. Masterman, and
Mr. Geach, and supported by Mr. Williams.—Mr.
COBDEN denied that the penny stamp would interfere
with the use of bankers' cheques. He thought the
tax comparatively unobjectionable.—Mr. GOULBURN
apprehended that the tax would prove highly
prejudicial to the smaller class of tradesmen.—Mr. WILSON
remarked that the banking system had very recently
attained its highly useful development, which it would
be most inexpedient to check by the imposition of a tax
such as was now proposed. The suggestion was not
new, having been often considered by different finance
ministers, and rejected after mature deliberation.
Their inquiries on the subject had led to the conviction
that the duty would not produce more than £100,000
per annum.—Mr. PHINN consented to withdraw his
resolution.

The Earl of Shaftesbury's Chimney Sweeper's Bill,
was thrown out on the second reading by 112 to 39; on
the ground, advanced by Mr. FITZROY that it was so
framed as to lead to an oppressive operation not intended.

On Monday, May 22, in committee of ways and
means, Mr. T. BARING moved, as an amendment to
the first of the Chancellor's Financial Resolutions,
an amendment "That it is not at present expedient
to authorise any further issue of Exchequer Bonds with
the engagement of repayment within the next six
years." A long debate ensued which was terminated
by a division, when the amendment was negatived by
290 against 186, and the resolution was agreed to.

On Tuesday, May 23, Sir W. CLAY moved for leave
to bring in a bill for the Abolition of Church Rates.
After some debate, leave was given by a majority of
129 against 62.

On Wednesday, May 24, the adjourned debate on the
Property Disposal Bill was resumed and again
adjourned.

On Thursday, May 25, the second reading of the
Oaths Bill having been moved, Sir F. THESIGER moved
its second reading that day six months. He opposed
the measure at great length, contending that it would
level the last defences of Christianity in the
legislature. The bill was also opposed by Mr. Napier,
Mr. Phillimore, Mr. Liddell, Mr. Newdegate, Mr.
Whiteside, Mr. Disraeli, and Mr. Muntz. It was
supported by Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Miall, and Lord John
Russell. The second reading was negatived by a
majority of 251 against 247.

On Friday, May 26, Sir JAMES GRAHAM, in answer
to a question, said that a rigorous Blockade of all the
Russian Ports in the Baltic would be effected, but that
Riga was the only one where the establishment of the
blockade was as yet announced. When other ports
were shut up by the cruisers of the combined fleets, the
circumstance would be duly promulgated in the Gazette.
To a subsequent question by Mr. M. Gibson, the right hon.
baronet answered that there was no intention to blockade
the ports in the White Sea.

Replying to Lord Dudley Stuart, Lord J. RUSSELL
stated that a Convention between England and Turkey
had been concluded on the subject of prizes similar to
that concluded between England and France.

The house having gone into committee of ways and
means, Mr. Wilson moved a resolution increasing the
Duty on Scotch Spirits by 1s. 4d. per gallon, instead of
1s. as originally proposed, and providing some new
arrangements respecting the compensation to be paid on
account of drawbacks. The resolution was agreed to,
and the Excise Duties Bill was afterwards considered,
and with its amendments passed through committee.

In committee on the Income-Tax Bill the CHANCELLOR
of the EXCHEQUER stated that the collection of
the income-tax in Ireland, concerning which some
apprehensions had been entertained, was effected with
perfect ease, insomuch that the government had been
able to make some considerable reductions in the staff
of collectors. The bill went through committee.

The discussion of the Oxford University Bill was
resumed in committee, and the clauses from 20 to 25,
inclusive, were agreed to, several amendments having
been negatived.

PROGRESS OF BUSINESS.

House of Lords.—April 27th.—Explanations respecting
condition of British troops at Gallipoli.

May 1st.—Income Tax Bill committed.

2nd.—Income Tax Bill read a third time and passed.

9th.—Unauthorised Negotiations, Lord Campbell's Bill read
a second time.

12th.—Church Building Acts Amendment Bill committed.

15th.—Message from the Crown as to embodiment of Militia.

16th.—Taxes on justice, Lord Brougham's resolutions
negatived.

18th.—Soldiers' wives' fund, Duke of Newcastle's statement.
—Landlord and Tenant (Ireland) Bill, and Leasing Powers
(Ireland) Bill, committed.

19th.—Railway Regulation Bill read a second time.

22nd.—Returns ordered of modes of paying the judges of
law courts.—Navy Pay Bill and Manning the Navy Bill read
a second time.

23rd.—Episcopal and Capitular Estates Bill referred to a
select committee.—Common Law Procedure Bill, and Church
Building Acts Bill passed through committee.

26th.—Landlord and Tenant (Ireland) Bill read a third time
and passed.—Leasing Powers (Ireland) Bill read a third time
and passed.—Manning the Navy Bill considered in committee.

House of Commons.—April 27th.—Oxford University Bill
committed.—Poor Removal Bill, select committee ordered.

28th.—Questions respecting the troops at Gallipoli, and
other subjects connected with the war.

May 1st.—Oxford University Bill in committee.—Militia
Bill read a first time.

2nd.—House counted out.

3rd.—Law of Mortmain Bill read a second time.—Criminal
Conversion, Mr. Bowyer's Bill thrown out.—Declarations, Mr.
Pellatt's Bill thrown out.—Carlisle Canonries, Mr. Ferguson's
Bill thrown out.—Conventual committee, debate on nomination.

4th.—Ticket-of-leave system, Mr. Fitzroy's statement.—
Railway Regulation Bill committed pro forma.—Oxford
University Bill in committee.

5th.—Bombardment of Odessa, Sir J. Graham's statement.
—Supply: Navy, Army, and Ordnance supplemental
estimates.—Railway Regulation Bill committed.—Militia Bill
committed.—New writs for Devonport and Hastings.

8th.—The Chancellor of the Exchequer's financial resolutions
and statement.—Bills for the Encouragement of Seamen
brought in by Sir J. Graham.

9th.—Malt Duty, Mr. Ball's amendment negatived.—Orange
River Sovereignty, Mr. Adderley's motion withdrawn.

10th.—Friendly Societies Bill referred to a select committee.
—Hustings Expenses, Mr. Hume's Bill thrown out by 154 to
57.—Medical Practitioners, Mr. Brady's Bill thrown out by
118 to 69.—Ways and Means, Sugar Duties resolution agreed to.

11th.—Oxford University Bill in committee.—Manning the
Navy Bill read a second time.—Railway Regulations Bill
reported.

12th.—Education (Scotland) Bill thrown out on second reading.
—Railway Regulation Bill read a third time and passed.

15th.—Excise Duties Bill read a second time.—Message from
the Crown respecting Embodiment of the Militia.

16th.—Laws affecting the press, Mr. M. Gibson's resolution
agreed to.—Leave given Mr. Bland to bring in Bills to Provide
for better Taking the Average Prices of Corn, and for the
Annual Variations of Rent-Charge in lieu of Tithes in Ireland.
—Leave given Mr Malins to bring in a Bill for Enabling
Married Women to Dispose of their Interests in Personal
Estate.—Custody of Wills, Mr. Hume's motion agreed to.

17th.—Episcopal and Capitular Estates Bill read a second
time and committed pro forma.—Drainage of Land Bill read a
second time.—Married Women Bill read a first time.

18th.—Real Estate Charges Bill read a second time.—
Conventual and Monastic Institutions Bill, order for appointment
of committee discharged by 100 to 1.—Merchant Shipping
Consolidation Bill read a second time.

19th.—Excise Duties Bill in committee.—Committee on
Ways and Means, Sugar Duties, Income Tax, Stamp Duties.
—Chimney Sweepers Bill thrown out.

22nd.—Ways and Means, Mr. T. Baring's amendment on
Mr. Gladstone's financial resolution negatived.—Customs
Duties Bill read a third time and passed.

23rd.—Leave given Sir W. Clay to bring in a Bill for the
Abolition of Church Rates.—The Industrial and Provident
Societies Bill went through committee.

24th.—Debate on Property Disposal Bill resumed and again
adjourned.

25th.—Oaths Bill thrown out on second reading by 251
against 247.

26th.—Scotch Spirits Duty, Mr. Wilson's resolution agreed
to.—Excise Duties Bill passed through committee.—Oxford
University Bill considered in committee.—Gaming House
Bill read a third time and passed.—Valuation of Lands
(Scotland) Bill passed through committee.