Colonel NORTH moved a series of resolutions relative
to the Military College at Sandhurst, with the view
of extending and improving the means of education for
officers in the army afforded in that establishment. He
proposed also, that free education and maintenance
should be granted in the college for the orphan sons of
officers of the army, navy, or marines.—Some
considerable discussion took place on the motion, and
calls were made for a division. Ultimately, however,
Lord Palmerston consented to refer the subject to a
committee, and on this intimation Colonel North
withdrew his resolutions.

Sir D. NORREYS obtained leave to bring in a bill
Restricting the Powers of Grand Juries in Ireland,
withdrawing from them all control over the local
expenditure, and entrusting the administration of local
affairs to elected councils.

Sir J. WALMSLEY proposed a resolution for Throwing
open the British Museum and National Gallery for
public inspection after morning service on Sundays.
So far from occasioning any desecration of the day, the
opportunity to visit these collections, he contended,
would tend to purify the tastes, elevate the character,
and deepen the religious sentiments of the people.
Sunday was emphatically the poor man's day, and it
was only just to furnish him with the means of spending
it most beneficially to his mind and body.—Mr A.
PELLATT proposed an amendment, that the Museum and
National Gallery should be opened on Saturdays and
Mondays, as being more convenient to the working
classes.—A good deal of discussion ensued, in the course
of which, Mr. GOULBURN, adverting to the amendment
brought forward by Mr. Pellatt, promised on behalf of
the trustees of the British Museum that the establishment
should be thrown open on Saturdays if that
proceeding were proved to suit the convenience of the
public. Respecting the original motion, he urged that
if the Museum were opened on Sunday the precedent
would be set for allowing shows, theatrical entertainments,
and amusements of every character on the
seventh day.—Lord PALMERSTON opposed the motion,
believing that the respectful observance of Sunday was
either a symptom or a cause of morality and good
conduct among the people. Individual actions might
be left to the consciences of individuals, but parliament
should not sanction a step which would shock the
religious scruples of a very large proportion of the
community.—Sir J. WALMESLEY offered to withdraw
his motion. The members opposed to it, however,
insisted on recording their votes, and a division took
place. For the original motion, 48; against, 235—187.
—The amendment was then withdrawn without a
division.

On Friday, March 23rd, The LORD ADVOCATE
obtained leave to bring in a bill providing for the
Education of the People in Scotland. In sketching the
principal features of the measure, he remarked that it
was substantially the same as the one introduced last
session, but defeated principally through party
influences. As a preliminary step, he proposed to
organise a corps of inspectors, who were to examine and
report upon the educational wants of every district in
Scotland, and the best means of supplying them.
Provision for public education in that country had hitherto
been compulsory—a characteristic which he proposed to
preserve, but at the same time not to retain the system
under the exclusive superintendence of the Established
Church. Religious instruction was, however, to be
given in all the schools with the proviso, that attendance
of the scholars should be left to the discretion of
their parents. He proposed to improve the condition
of the parish schools, and raise the salaries of the school-
masters, throwing the expense upon the general
assessment for educational purposes, and transferring
the management from the presbytery to the heritors in
the several localities. Denying the allegation that his
measure was calculated to advance the Free Church,
the Lord-Advocate declared, that his object had been to
attain perfect impartiality, and to assuage the spirit of
sectarianism.

On Monday, March 26, the house having resolved
itself into committee, in order to consider the royal
message respecting the Sardinian Treaty.—Lord
PALMERSTON moved an address in answer to the Crown;
and, after briefly recapitulating the terms of the
convention, went on to explain the advantages which he
anticipated to arise from it both to the allies, in carrying
on the war with Russia, and to Sardinia itself, by
bringing that country into cordial union with the great
powers of Europe.—A resolution sanctioning the
conclusion of the treaty, and authorising the advance
of money to Sardinia under the terms specified therein,
was put from the chair.—A long and desultory
conversation ensued; but ultimately the resolution was
agreed to unanimously.

The motion for the second reading of the Newspaper
Stamp Bill was prefaced by the presentation of numerous
petitions in favour of the measure, many of which
prayed that all printed matter should be allowed
transmission through the Post-office at a rate of 1d. for four
ounces.—Mr. DEEDES moved that the further progress
of the bill should be postponed until the Chancellor of
the Exchequer had made his financial statement.—Sir
Lytton BULWER reminded the house, that he had been
the first to introduce a measure for abolishing the taxes
on knowledge. Twenty years had elapsed since, and
had only strengthened his objections to the impost.
The dangers which were then supposed to attend any
removal of restrictions, or encouragement for cheap
newspapers, were shown to have been altogether
imaginary. Low-priced publications now abounded, and
evinced no degradation either in character or ability.
Respecting the financial objection, he expressed his
conviction that the Exchequer would practically lose
nothing by the measure; and pointing to the rapid
spread of education among the people, enlarged upon
the benefits which cheap literature had already dispensed,
or held in store for us if we allowed it free scope.
—The ATTORNEY GENERAL supported the measure on
legal, and Sir F. BARING on financial grounds.—The
CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER supported the
measure. Existing literary properties, he argued,
would sustain no injury. The reduction of duty in
1836 had been equally dreaded, but led to a beneficial
result. Admitting that the bill was likely to occasion
an immediate loss to the revenue of £200,000 per annum,
he assumed the responsibility of providing some
sufficient substitute. Should the measure be adopted, he
stated that the government were prepared to establish a
book-post for the conveyance of all printed matter at
lower rates, and with more extended facilities than had
hitherto existed.—Mr. DISRAELI supported the
amendment, on the ground that the tax should not be
surrendered before the method by which it was to be
replaced was known.—Lord PALMERSTON supported
the bill, which was read a second time, by a majority of
215 against 161.

On Tuesday, March 27, Major REED moved for the
appointment of a select committee to inquire into the
present mode of conferring commissions in the army, by
purchase or otherwise. After some discussion, the
motion was negatived by a majority of 104 against 70.

PROGRESS OF BUSINESS.

House of lords.—Monday, Feb. 26th.—Criminal Justice Bill
read a second time.—Purchasers' Protection against
Judgments Bill read a third time and passed.

27th.—Criminal Justice Bill committed.

Thursday, March 1st.—Common Law Procedure (Ireland)
Bill read a second time.

2nd.—Lord Clarendon's announcement of the Death of the
Emperor of Russia.—Common Law Procedure Bill read a
third time and passed.

5th.—Royal assent to the Consolidated Fund £3,000,000, and
the Consolidated Fund, £6,000,000 Bills.—Education in India,
Lord Monteagle's motion.

6th.—Case of Lord Lucan, Lord Raglan's letter.—Bishop of
Exeter's motion on Roman Catholic Processions.

9th.—Ticket of Leave System , Lord St. Leonard's statement.

12th.—Secretaries and Under Secretaries of State Bill read
a second time.

13th.—Marine Mutiny Bill read a second time.—Mutiny Bill
committed.—Tea Duties Bill committed.—Exchequer Bills
Bill read a third time and passed.

15th.—Marine Mutiny Bill read a third time and passed.
—Ecclesiastical Courts Bill read a second time.

16th.—Royal assent to a number of Bills.—Criminal Justice
Bill read a third time and passed.