Protestants should have, under government
superintendence, the advantage of a sound moral, literary and
religious education.—The Marquis of LANSDOWNE
deprecated any hasty interference with a system which
had been more successful than could have been anticipated.
—The Earl of DESART and the Earl of RODEN
spoke briefly against the national system, and the subject
dropped.

On Thursday the 18th, the Earl of ELLENBOROUGH,
after moving for certain returns of the police force in
the United Kingdom, which were granted, asked
whether it was the intention of the government to
adhere to the decision of the late government not to give
Aid to Volunteer Rifle Corps. The Earl of DERBY
answered that the government concurred with the
decision of the late ministry on this subject.

The Earl of SHAFTSBURY moved an address to the
Crown in furtherance of the establishment of a State
Lunatic Asylum for the Custody of Criminal Lunatics;
but the Earl of Derby objecting, the motion was after
some discussion withdrawn.

On Friday the 19th, the Duke of NEWCASTLE, in
presenting a petition from the Manchester Commercial
Association, deprecating any return to protection, and
requiring that the country should be relieved from the
anxiety and uncertainty consequent upon the non-
explanation of the ministerial policy, declared that he
could give no support to ministers until they announced
that they had no intention of attempting the re-
imposition of a corn duty. He asked whether they
were prepared to Dissolve Parliament with the least
possible delay.—The Earl of DERBY said that he had
not observed any such anxiety as the petitioners spoke
of. He admitted the desirability of an early settlement
of the commercial policy of the country, and also of the
larger question,—by whom should that policy be
administered. For such a settlement he was as anxious
as the noble duke, and he would go so far as to say
that he thought next autumn should not pass over
without a new parliament having had an opportunity of
declaring conclusively the verdict of the nation on the
course of policy proposed by her Majesty's government.
He would give no pledge inconsistent with his duty to
the Crown, but as far as in him should lie, the ordinary
and current business of the legislature should not be
interfered with by discussions on the general financial
policy of the government.—In the conversation which
ensued, and in which Lord Bateman and Lord
Wodehouse spoke, the Earl of Aberdeen and Earl Grey
expressed themselves satisfied with the answer of the
Premier.

On Monday the 22nd, Lord BROUGHAM laid on the
table a bill to Amend an Oversight in the Statutory Law,
touching the Assembling of Parliament by Proclamation
of the Crown. At present a new parliament could not
be assembled until 50 days from the time of the proclamation;
and the object of his bill was to reduce the
time from 50 to 25 days. He had brought the bill
forward because if any of his noble friends behind him
(the opposition) had done so, their motives might have
been questioned. He took the opportunity of impressing
upon their lordships the absolute necessity that existed
for taking immediate and stringent steps to put down
the bribery and corruption which was now practised at
elections. They were approaching a dissolution of
parliament, and he hoped before that event took place some
measure would be brought forward to put an end to
bribery at elections. He was satisfied that bribery at
elections would never be put down unless the member
returned were compelled to make a searching, stringent,
thorough-going, and sifting declaration that he had not
directly or indirectly been guilty of bribery. The Earl
of DERBY did not see any objection to the introduction
of the bill. At the same time, he thought it was a
matter which ought to be debated in parliament.—There
were occasions when the shortening of the period
between the proclamation and the assembling of parliament
would be most desirable. With reference to the
subject of bribery at elections, he said that a bill had
been introduced by her Majesty's late government, the
essential provisions of which had been adopted by the
present government, and it was now under the
consideration of the other house of parliament.—The Marquis
of BREADALBANE said the corrupter appeared to be a
greater culprit than the person corrupted, and they
ought to see if some severe measure could not be adopted
to punish him.—The bill was then read a first time.

On Tuesday, the 23rd, the Lord CHANCELLOR moved
the second reading of the Bill for Amending the Law
of Wills, and after explaining the inconveniences which
attended the existing system of signatures, proposed
that the bill, if it met with their lordships' approbation,
should be forwarded through all its stages as speedily as
possible, in order that it might pass before Easter.—
Lords Brougham, Cranworth, and Ellenborough having
given their support to the bill, it was read a second
time, and ordered to be committed.

Lord BEAUMONT then called the attention of the
house to the State of Affairs on the River Plate, and
having given a sketch of the history of the various
republics watered by that river, from their origin down
to the recent expulsion of Rosas, asked several questions
connected with the trade and commerce of those republics,
and concluded by urging on the government to lose
no time in entering into negotiations for establishing a
free navigation along the Plate, Parana, and Paraguay
rivers.—Lord MALMESBURY replied that it was not in
his power to answer all the questions put by the noble
lord at present, but as soon as he had heard of the
expulsion of Rosas, he put himself into communication
with the government of the French republic, for the
sake of renewing such negotiations with the states along
the River Plate, as would contribute to the peace of
those states and the commercial interests of both nations.
—The Earl of ABERDEEN expressed his satisfaction at
what had fallen from Lord Malmesbury. The
independence of the Oriental republic, which was the main
object of our interference in the River Plate, was now
accomplished. Having had some experience in these
negotiations, he was anxious to testify that nothing could
have exceeded the good faith with which France, both
as a monarchy and a republic, had acted towards us in
the affairs of the River Plate, and he was therefore glad
to hear that the noble lord had put himself into
communication with the government of that country, with
regard to the recent occurrences at Buenos Ayres.—
Some further discussion took place, in the course of
which Lord Malmesbury promised to furnish Lord
Beaumont with a copy of the last despatch received by
the government relating to the expulsion of Rosas.

On Thursday the 25th, the Earl of ELLENBOROUGH
having given notice of a question on the recent
hostilities with Ava, the Earl of DERBY stated that though
a collision had taken place between the East India
Company's forces and those of the Sovereign of Ava, no
war had yet been declared. He was not in a position to
give any detailed information until the arrival of the
next mail. Lord MONTEAGLE moved for a select
committee on the Irish Consolidated Annuities Act, and
instanced numerous cases of hardship resulting from the
enforcement of the repayment of the advances. The
Earl of GLENGALL supported the motion. The Earl of
DERBY consented to grant the committee, and admitted
that a revision of the law was necessary for the purpose
of affording relief to those localities which had obtained
the advances only for the purpose of preserving the
people from starvation.

In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, on Friday, Feb. 27th,
the SPEAKER was directed to issue his warrant to
the Clerk of the Crown for New Writs for Elections in
those places which are represented by members of the.
government.—Mr. BRAMSTON moved for a new writ in
respect to the borough of Harwich, a proposition which
elicited a debate of considerable animation. Eventually
it was withdrawn.

Mr. C. P. VlLLIERS gave notice that, upon as early
a day as he could procure after her Majesty's ministers
had taken their seats, he should submit a resolution to
the house declaratory of its intention to preserve the
Policy of Free-Trade, and to resist any attempt to re-
impose a duty upon foreign Corn. The house adjourned
for a fortnight.

On Friday, March 12th, the majority of the newly-
elected ministers took the oaths and their seats. New