public charged the government with participation in
the treachery. He referred to former instances of the
communication of cabinet secrets to the newspapers, and
said that it was the duty of the ministry—and, if they
refused, of the house itself—to sift the affair to the
bottom, and, if no one else undertook the duty, he
should undertake it himself.—Lord MALMESBURY, in
expressing his satisfaction at the withdrawal of the
charge, said that the betrayal had evidently taken place
in this country. The time did not allow of its
committal elsewhere.

Lord CLANRICARDE moved for papers respecting the
Exportation of Russian Produce, and the Rights of
Neutrals. He said that the prohibition of the exportation
of Russian produce already bought by Englishmen
was an injury only to this country, and a direct benefit to
Russia. British subjects received last year such strong
assurances of a peaceable termination to the pending
dispute that they were fully warranted in entering into
mercantile engagements with Russia. He entered at
some length into the position of the German powers,
and contended that the prohibition of transport by sea
would drive the trade of Russia into overland channels.
—Lord CLARENDON regretted that any injury should
be inflicted on the British merchants in Russia, of whose
character he spoke in high terms. But when asked by
a merchant in Riga, who intended to continue his
residence there, if he might export Russian produce as
heretofore, he could only refer him to the recognised
law, by which any man, foreign or native, who resided
and traded in a hostile country, was liable to be treated
as an enemy. We had a neighbour for ally in the
present contest, and before altering our former rules we
were bound to ascertain how far our new principles
would be adopted by that ally. The matter had,
however, been fully considered by the government, who
were about to take a final determination. All he could
say at present was that it was their intention to treat
British subjects with all the liberality in their power; and
as to letters of marque, to set an example to the world, and
mitigate, in their treatment, the horrors of war. He
hoped in a few days to be able to state his ultimate
resolution.

On Tuesday, March 21, the third reading of the
Marine Mutiny Bill having been moved, The Earl of
ELLENBOROUGH complained of the inconvenience which
arose from allowing the coast-guard men who enlisted
into the navy a higher rate of pay than was given to
other able seamen.—The Earl of ABERDEEN remarked
that the experiment was a new one, and time was
required to determine upon its final arrangements. The
biil was then read a third time and passed.

The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH referred to an alleged
act of Fraud Perpetrated by a Contractor who had
engaged to furnish hay for the transport vessels which
were conveying cavalry horses to the East. The
paragraph which had attracted his attention purported
to be an extract of a letter from an officer on board one
of her Majesty's ships, and it stated that the government
were giving £710s. a ton for hay packed in trusses, and
it had turned out that a scoundrel (one of his men
having split upon him) had put into the centre of the
trusses all sorts of stuff—shavings and all manner of
rubbish and filth—and in one of the trusses there was
actually a dead lamb. All the hay had been damped,
and was altogether unfit for the use of the horses, in
addition to which there was the danger of spontaneous
combustion arising from it. The only punishment to
which the man had been subjected was taking the
contract from him. He wished to ask, first, whether
the statement was correct; and secondly, whether the
criminal law of the country would not reach a miscreant
of that kind?—The Duke of NEWCASTLE was sorry to
say that the statement was correct. The circumstances
were these: upon a certain number of horses being
ordered for foreign service, advertisements were inserted
in the newspapers for a supply of hay; but at the
expiration of the time there was only one tender, and
that was for a small quantity. Letters were then
addressed to several persons who were in the habit of
supplying hay, to inquire what amount they would be
ready to supply, and at what price; upon which answers
were received from all of them, stating the quantity and
the price. He was not able to inform his noble friend
whether more than one of those parties had been guilty
of the fraud which had been practised, but it was true
that the hay, which from the exterior appeared to be
excellent, was found to contain the filth and rubbish to
which his noble friend referred. The hay was, of
course, rejected, and great inconvenience had arisen in
consequence. As to the question respecting the state of
the law on the subject, he was not prepared to answer
it; but he could assure the house that the government
would deal with the parties with the utmost severity of
the law. The Duke of Newcastle afterwards said that
he had ascertained that the contractor's name was
Sturges.—The name was immediately caught up and
muttered all over the house, in the midst of which—
Earl GREY said, amid some laughter, that he wished
the person had been more accurately defined, for he
knew several persons of the name of Sturgis and
Sturges.

On Friday, March 24, the LORD CHANCELLOR, in
moving the second reading of the Common Law
Procedure Bill, explained the clauses by which trials without
juries were permitted with the consent of the parties,
and the approbation of the judge.—Lord CAMPBELL
insisted that the functions of the jury were indispensable,
and believed that they often took a sounder view of the
case than the judge himself.—Lord ST. LEONARDS
remarked that the bill introduced, for the first time,
the principles of equity into common law. He declared
those principles altogether antagonistic; and compared
the proposal to one for allowing a jury to settle questions
in Chancery.—After a few words from Lord BROUGHAM,
the Earl of WICKLOW objected to the clause which
enabled the judge to dispense with oaths in certain
cases. If that question were touched, it should he
made the subject of a special bill.—The Duke of ARGYLL
defended the clause, and explained the purpose it was
intended to fulfil. Many persons in Scotland had
suffered imprisonment on account of their conscientious
objection to take an oath.—Lord BROUGHAM and the
LORD CHANCELLOR also contended that the clause was
expedient.—The bill was then read a second time.

Lord CLANCARTY having expressed his opinion that
war should he inaugurated by some Act of Public
Prayer—The Earl of ABERDEEN observed that the
time was not come for such a demonstration; and when
it arrived, the occasion was already provided for in the
liturgy.

In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, on Friday, Feb. 24, in a
committee of supply, the SECRETARY AT WAR brought
forward the Army Estimates. He admitted that the
computations he was about to submit could not be
considered final. The army was still nominally on a
peace establishment, but with every preparation made
for a state of war. In the number of men the increase
immediately proposed was 11,000. In the cost a reduction
amounting to £32,000 had been effected from the
average amount required for a corresponding enhancement
in the force, and the net increment in the vote
of money would be only £268,000. Adverting to various
reforms and improvements accomplished in our military
organisation, he explained the arrangements that had
been made for the extension of education in the army,
and which comprised the appointment of three classes
of schoolmasters; the establishment of lectures for
subaltern officers; of periodical examinations; and
some other appliances for professional instruction. The
Secretary at War proceeded to detail various changes
in the staff arrangements, in the awards of medals and
gratuities for good conduct, in mess rations, and the
transport of troops. He announced a gratifying
improvement in the discipline and efficiency of the
soldiers, who were now furnished with far superior
weapons than heretofore, and stated that the deposits
in the regimental savings' banks had largely increased.
The subject of promotions had been referred to a
commission, who would, if possible, suggest some
alterations in the present system. Mr. Herbert
concluded by moving the first vote on the estimate paper
for voting 112.977 men and officers for the service of the
army.—Mr. HUME congratulated the house and the
government on the announcement now made, and on