considering that the puhlic money ought not to he
lightly thrown away.—Mr. T. HANKEY characterised
the bill as a measure of confiscation.—Mr. V. SCULLY,
though not approving the bill, thought it preferable to
permitting the existing condition of the West India
estates to continue. The bill passed through committee.

On the third reading of the Russian Government
Securities Bill, Sir F. KELLY moved to omit the first
clause, and to substitute one to the effect that, during
the continuance of war with Russia, any person
purchasing stocks, scrip, or securities issued by Russia since
the 29th day of March, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour,
and in Scotland of an offence punishable with fine and
imprisonment; provided that the act shall not extend
to any subscription or purchase made in any foreign
country by any commercial house trading and having a
place of business in any foreign country, and wherein
one or more British subjects, and one or more aliens,
are partners, or jointly interested. And he also moved
to add to the clause a proviso to the effect that the act
shall not extend to anything done in any foreign country,
by any commercial house wherein one or more British
subjects and one or more aliens are partners, nor to the
taking by any person of any such securities as a security
for any debt, nor to the taking of any securities as parcel
of the estate of any deceased person, or of a debtor.—The
SOLICITOR-GENERAL opposed the first portion of the
proposed addition, which, he said, was contradictory,
and inconsistent with the remainder of the measure, and
which pointed out a door by which escape could be
effected from the operation of the bill.—Mr. HUME
suggested the withdrawal of the bill, as opposed to the true
principles of legislation, and as not calculated to accomplish
its object.—Lord D. STUART had heard nothing
to convince him that the bill was not a good one. It
was not designed against respectable persons, but against
those whose unprincipled cupidity would induce them,
if permitted, to lend money to the enemies of their
country.— Mr. WILKINSON opposed the bill.—Lord J.
RUSSELL said that the argument that this bill inflicted
a hardship might be valid enough, and it was equally
true that it was very cruel and hard to make the lending
money to an enemy high treason. The opponents of
the bill should in consistency endeavour to repeal the
latter enactment, as the principles involved were the
same. He opposed the amendment. Both portions of
the amendment were negatived without a division.—
On the question that the bill do pass, the house divided,
and the numbers were 51 to 13; majority for the bill,
38. The bill then passed.

On Tuesday, August 8, Lord J. RUSSELL moved that
the lords' amendments to the Bribery Bill should be
agreed to. He remarked that parliament must be
hereafter called upon to define to what extent the travelling
expenses of electors should be legal.—Lord HOTHAM
strongly protested against the omission of the clause
regarding such expenses, which had been struck out by
the lords, and he moved the further consideration of
the bill that day month.—Lord J. RUSSELL contended
against this mode of defeating a measure upon which so
much consideration had been expended.—After discussion
the house divided, when the numbers were: for
agreeing to the lords' amendments, 78: for Lord
Hotham's amendment, 21.—Majority for agreement, 57.
Lord HOTHAM then moved the adjournment of the
house, and was defeated by 68 to 16, and other motions
for adjournment of the house and of the debate were
successfully rejected; at length a compromise was
arrived at, to the effect that, on condition of the operation
of the bill being limited to one year, opposition was
not to be persisted in.—Lord J. Russell assenting, the
lords' amendments were agreed to.

On the order of the day for considering the consolidated
fund (appropriation) bill, Mr. LUCAS availed himself
of the opportuity of entering at considerable length
into a statement of the alleged Unfitness of Mr. Edmund
O' Flaherty (the late Special Commissioner of Income-
Tax in Ireland) for his office, and to rumours touching
his misconduct therein, and he demanded whether that
gentleman still retained his official position.—The
CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that Mr.
O'Flaberty had ceased to hold the office in April last,
not on account of any misconduct, but because the office
itself had been abolished. He objected to the indefinite
mode in which the question of Mr. O'Flaherty's
qualifications had been brought before the house, and
explained the principles upon which such appointments
were made.—Mr. GLADSTONE added, in answer to a
question by Mr. Hume, that Mr. O'Flaherty had never
touched public money; and no complaint had been
made as to the manner in which he had discharged his
duties.—Mr. DISRAELI reminded the house, that in the
debate on Mr. Keogh's case, the testimony of this very
Mr. O'Flaherty was relied on to prove that Lord Naas
had made Mr. Keogh an offer of office on behalf of Lord
Derby. He hoped the unfavourable impression then
made against Lord Naas by Mr. O'Flaherty's testimony
would now be removed.

The house having gone into committee on the
East India Company's Revenue Accounts, Sir C.
WOOD made his promised Statement on Indian
Affairs, there being about a dozen members present.
He began by saying that his object was not so much to
go into the financial question as to give a general view of
the state of the country. The accounts were not so full
as he could have wished, but they were more complete
than any produced on a former occasion; and it would
be his endeavour to render them still more complete as
opportunity occurred. For details connected with the
income and expenditure of the several presidencies, he
referred to printed papers. He regretted to say that for
1853-4, there would be a deficit of £872,000. Reviewing
the various sources of revenue, he mentioned that little
reliance could be placed upon the income upon opium;
and that, as regarded salt, a commission of inquiry had
been instituted to see how far the views of the house, as
expressed last year, could be safely carried out.
Altogether, there was no certain prospect of increase in the
income, or of very much diminution in the expense.
The latter circumstance was owing to the expenses
incidental to increase in territory. He hoped that
arrangements might yet be practicable for reducing the
military expenditure. Under the great heads of charge
—public works, judicial establishments, education—
there could be no diminution of expenditure; on the
contrary, the feeling previously expressed by the house
would justify an increase. He was glad, however, to
say that a considerable saving had been made on the
interest payable on the Indian debt—the greatest part
of the five per cent, stock having been reduced to four
per cent. Passing to the state of the country generally,
he observed that effectual means had been taken to put
down lawlessness wherever it was found to exist; and
that successful efforts had been made to establish
amicable relations with frontier chiefs. He was glad
also to state that the local legislature had originated
measures for improving the position of the native
judges, and for other purposes calculated to advance
the interests of the natives, and to advance the material
prosperity of India. Railroads were progressing
satisfactorily, and there was every prospect of a profitable
return. By this time, he hoped, a line of 44 miles from
Calcutta had been opened. An electric telegraph had
been opened from Calcutta to Agra, and from Agra to
Bombay. Law reform was also in progress; and he
hoped next session to be able to introduce a bill to
improve the procedure in the Indian law courts.
Improved arrangements, after the model of what existed
in this country, had been adopted for the superintendence
and construction of public works. With regard to
education, the effort had been to adopt a scheme which
would embrace the population generally, without
diminishing the amount of education anxiously desired
by the higher castes. The course of proceeding was
to give grants in aid of private enterprise, without
reference to religious creed. Constant inspection
would be practised. Colleges and schools under them
would also be established. He concluded by moving a
resolution embodying the financial results. Sir E.
PERRY deduced from the scanty attendance of members
the little interest which Indian affairs excited. This
was unfortunate, as nothing could be better for India
than parliamentary interference.— Mr. Kinnaird
recommended that the accounts of the East India
Company should be made up to the month of June in each
year, so that they might be discussed in parliament