Не Treaty, and furnished a pretext to Russia. He believed we might be involved in a very serious war. because we should then completely com- | Treaty, and not the raising of fresh mand Cabul; and if we advanced a complications elsewhere. He (Major little beyond Quetta we should com- Nolan) had advised the Government, bepletely command Candahar. There fore the Russians crossed the Danube, would then be nothing left to the Ameer not merely to be neutral, but to observe but to become our slave, or to shift his an armed neutrality, and he would not dominion and go to Balkh, where he have been then adverse to war-when would then be completely under Russian Turkey was strong, and when the Ruscontrol. The greatest writers on the sub- sians were in a bad position-but he did ject said that all wars in a mountainous not think we could now force the execountry were long and tedious, as much cution of the Treaty of Berlin with a from the character of the inhabitants as crushed Turkey for our only Ally, from the features of the district. A war although we should have some chance with Afghanistan was very different of this had we a great Power for an Ally. from a war against a people living in Every country in Europe had its reasons the plains. If we attempted to take a for not wishing to have a conflict with portion of Afghanistan by occupying the Russia, and would make their various Passes at the head of the Khyber, and the excuses for not insisting, by war, upon Pass a little in advance of it, we should Russia's going out of European Turkey. be engaging in a very long and expen- It would now be said that this was a sive war. As there had never been a private quarrel, and must be fought out war of this kind in which breech-loaders between England and Russia. had been in the hands of both the thought that by our present move in Afcontending parties, no one knew whe-ghanistan we had imperilled the Berlin ther improved weapons would, on the whole, benefit the civilized and regular, or the half-civilized and irregular combatant. He thought it possible that the Afghans might find that they could purchase breech-loaders of the Russians if the war lasted two or three years. Hon. Members seemed to think that if they had the Passes of Afghanistan we should be quite safe; but this was entirely fallacious. We should never be able to keep out an army by holding the Passes; although he admitted that holding the Passes would give us time to concentrate for a pitched battle. The time selected for this war was not a favourable one, and it could hardly be said that it had been forced upon us by the Ameer. We should have waited for a year or two. Afghanistan was not our main object; we ought to consider the political state of India, Persia, Afghanistan, and Turkey. It was of enormous importance to us that Russia should execute the Berlin Treaty, and to watch this was our main object at the present moment. As far as we could judge from the Papers, she was moving away some troops and bringing a larger number back again. She was raising Balkan levies, which would every day of the Russian occupation become more efficient and formidable. Russia, at the present time, was not on a peace footing; and it appeared to him that our great object was the execution of the Berlin Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Debate be now adjourned." -(Earl Percy.) Motion agreed to. Debate further adjourned till Friday. MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS QUALIFICATION BILL. On Motion of Mr. ERRINGTON, Bill to amend the Law relating to the Qualifications required for holding certain Medical Appointments, ordered to be brought in by Mr. ERRINGTON and Mr. BLEnnerhassett. Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 61.] PUBLIC HEALTH ACT (1875) AMENDMENT (INTERMENTS) BILL. On Motion of Mr. MARTEN, Bill to amend "The Public Health Act, 1875," as to Interments, ordered to be brought in by Mr. MARTEN, Mr. GREENE, and Mr. COLE. Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 62.] HOUSE OF COMMONS, Friday, 13th December, 1878. tion of the Lord Chancellor; and as soon as the House re-assembled after the Christmas Recess the course it was intended to pursue would be stated, and probably legislation would follow. Ordered-First 41 & 42 VICT. c. 49-WEIGHTS AND MINUTES.]-PUBLIC BILLS - NOTICE OF RESOLUTION. 1600 TURKEY-THE RHODOPE DISTRICT- THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHE QUER: I beg to give Notice that it is my intention, on the earliest possible day, to make a Motion in this House for a grant in aid of the sufferers in the Rhodope district. I believe that the proper course to take would be to give Notice that I will on Monday next move that on the following day the House will resolve itself into Committee to consider the Resolution which I shall place on the Paper, if possible, to-night, or, if not, on Monday. 1900 THE LUNACY LAWS-LEGISLATION. QUESTION. MR. P. A. TAYLOR asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If it is his intention to introduce this Session a measure for the reform of the Lunacy Laws? QUESTION. MR. J. COWEN asked the President of the Board of Trade, If the Government propose to introduce an amending Act to mitigate the penalties permitted to be imposed by the Weights and Measures Act of last Session upon persons who, with no fraudulent intent, give publicity to market returns and price lists containing accounts of sales effected by local, customary, or heaped measures? VISCOUNT SANDON: The matter is one which excites so much anxiety in many quarters, that I believe I had better inform the hon. Gentleman exactly what we have been advised respecting it. Section 23 of the Weights and Measures Act, 1878, is identical in every respect with section 31 of 5 & 6 Will. IV. c. 63. The offence is expressed in identically the same words. The penalties are the same, and are to be recovered in the same way-before Will. IV. c. 63, required some portion two Justices. Section 32 of 5 & 6 of the penalty, not exceeding a moiety, to be paid to the informer; whereas the present Act (section 57) (4) allows the Court a discretion as to whether they will or not assign any portion of the penalty to the informer. It is to be observed that, though the possible fine is a large one, it is a maximum only. It is not quite accurate to say that the penalties are imposed upon persons who give publicity to market returns and price-lists containing accounts of sales effected by local, customary, or heaped measures. What the section imposes a penalty for is, a person publishing a return in which the denomination of measure quoted implies a greater or less measure than that of the same denomination of imperial measure; that is to say, it prohibits a newspaper from quoting a return which may mislead by naming an imperial measure, when, in MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, fact, it means a measure which is not said, the Report of the Committee which imperial. This clearly ought to be prohad sat on this subject was at the pre-hibited, as it is misleading. The name formal or public document, be used for | can inform the House what was Lord that measure, and that only. The sec- Lytton's authority for saying to the tion does not prohibit a paper from Nawab Atta Mahomed Khan, the Briquoting market returns of sales effected tish Agent at Cabul, on the 10th Octoby local or customary measures, if it ber 1876, that if His Highness the states those measures in terms which Ameer did not desire to come to an will not mislead. For instance, a news- understanding with England, Russia paper publishing a quotation of a sale at did so, and desired it at Shere Ali's. Smithfield of meat at so much per 8 lb. expense; whether, seeing that Lord would not be liable to any penalty under Derby's published communications with the section. Even if it quoted the sale, Russia of the same date point to no as is commonly done, at so much per such negotiation, Lord Lytton was austone of 8 lb., it is very doubtful, how-thorized to state that there was nothing ever undesirable such a mode of quotation may be, whether the paper would be liable to a penalty under the section, because the denomination quotednamely, a stone of 8 lb., does not imply a less weight than is implied by the same denomination of imperial weight. After this explanation, I think the hon. Gentleman will agree that there is no need for us to introduce an amending Act. THE "PRINCESS ALICE" CALAMITY. CAPTAIN PIM asked the President of MR. ASSHETON CROSS: Sir, I wish to bear my testimony to the great amount of time and attention which the persons who were engaged on this inquest gave to the investigation of this terrible calamity, and I think that the thanks of the country are specially due to them. But I am sorry to say that is all I can offer to my hon. Friend. This question was very carefully considered at the time of what was called "the Bravo trial." And it was found that there was no precedent for making a grant to a jury for serving in such matters, and I do not think it would be wise to create one now. AFGHANISTAN-STATEMENT OF THE MR. ERNEST NOEL asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether he YOL. CCXLIII. [THIRD SERIES.] to prevent us from providing for the security of our Frontier by entering into an understanding with Russia which might have the effect of wiping Afghanistan out of the map altogether; and, whether the Viceroy's intention that all that was in his mind should be faithfully communicated without reserve to the Ameer was carried out by the Vakil? THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: I must point out to the House that the Viceroy of India is not in the position of an Under Secretary of State, and that it is really impossible to expect that we should answer Questions upon matters of this kind, which really rest within the Viceroy's own discretion and competence. Therefore, I can only say, with reference to the first and second Questions, that it was not in consequence of any official communications from the Secretary of State that these things occurred; that Lord Lytton was perfectly authorized, from his position, such information as he had received; in giving his opinion as Viceroy from and that with regard to the last Ques tion "Whether the Viceroy's intention that all that was in his mind should be faithfully communicated without reserve to the Ameer was carried out by the Vakil". I am utterly unable to answer as to what was in the Viceroy's mind. RUSSIA AND PERSIA.-QUESTION. SIR JOHN HAY asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Government has information of the recent arrival of Russian Officers in Persia for the purpose of disciplining the Persian Army; and, if he can say whether the Shah has accepted their services? 2 B MR. ASSHETON CROSS: Sir, with regard to the first Question, the learned Lord Advocate and myself have been in consultation upon this matter, and I think it most probable that some legislation will be brought forward after the Recess, which will make it unnecessary to fill up the post. With regard to the latter Question, I undertook to visit Edinburgh myself, in order to inquire into the condition of the Register Office. I have made arrangements that one of its officers should meet me there in the course of next week, and when Parliament assembles again I shall be prepared to state my view of the matter. THE MERCANTILE MARINE-ARMED MERCHANT VESSELS.-QUESTION. SIR EDWARD WATKIN asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, If efficient measures are in preparation whereby the Mercantile Marine may become, at short notice, available for the armed protection of our commerce on the sea, in the event of war and aggression; and, whether any legislation is proposed on the subject? MR. W. H. SMITH: Sir, steps have already been taken by which the Mercantile Marine may become at short notice available for the armed protection of our commerce on the sea in the event of war. I do not apprehend that legislation will be necessary for the purpose; but if, at any future time, it may appear desirable that further powers should be obtained, I shall not hesitate to ask Parliament for any authority that may be necessary to make the Steam Mercantile Marine a valuable addition to the offensive and defensive strength INDIA-FRONTIER MAPS. QUESTION. CAPTAIN PIM asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether it is true that during Lord Northbrook's Viceroyalty a non-commissioned officer of the "Guides" set out, with the apmonths' absence returned, bringing proval of his chief, and after many with him a map of the whole route traversed by him from the Afghan Frontier to the nearest Russian post, and that his chief at once forwarded this map to head quarters; whether the acknowledgment for such service was not a reprimand to all concerned; colonel of his regiment in the first inwhether, although rewarded by the stance, the non-commissioned officer was not dismissed the service by order of the Viceroy; whether such noncommissioned officer was afterwards reinstated, and by whom, and when; and, whether it is not the especial duty of the "Guides" to obtain all the geographical and topographical knowledge possible of our Indian Frontier ? MR. E. STANHOPE: Sir, I have made all inquiries possible since I saw the Question of the hon. and gallant Member on the Paper; but I cannot hear anything whatever of the statement to which it refers. THE CHARITY COMMISSION. QUESTION. MR. W. H. JAMES asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether Her Majesty's Government have had under their consideration in the Recess the present charge of the expenses of the Charity Commission upon the Consolidated Fund; and, whether they entertain submitting any scheme to Parliament by which either the whole or part of the expenses of the Commission may be raised by a small sum raised upon the Charities within its jurisdiction? SIR HENRY SELWIN-IBBETSON, in reply, said, he was now in communication with the Charity Commissioners with regard to the present charge of the expenses of the Commission and the quarter from which it should be defrayed, and when Parliament met after the Recess he should be able, he hoped, to suggest some alteration in the present LAW AND JUSTICE (SCOTLAND) JUDICIAL BUSINESS OF NAIRNSHIRE. QUESTION. MR. FRASER-MACKINTOSH asked the Lord Advocate, What steps Government intend to take with the view of remedying the inconveniences occasioned to the judicial business of Nairnshire from the want of a resident sheriff? THE LORD ADVOCATE: Sir, there has not been a vacancy in the judicial office in Nairn for upwards of 50 years, and I think it is to that circumstance, rather than to the difficulty in getting their judicial work done there, that the inconvenience alleged by the hon. Member must be attributed. Her Majesty's Government propose to remedy that inconvenience by appointing a gentleman to discharge the duties of the vacant office; but it is right to say, looking to the terms of the hon. Gentleman's Question, that it is not intended to appoint a resident sheriff to perform the duties of the office. The Law Commissioners of 1860 recommended that the office should be united to that of a neighbouring sheriff substitute; and I think there has been no such change in the amount or in the character of the duties as would justify the Government in departing from that recommendation. THE COMMISSARIAT DEPARTMENT. QUESTION. SIR HENRY HAVELOCK asked the Secretary of State for War, with reference to his previous answers upon this subject and to the Warrant of 12th July last under which a number of Officers of the Commissariat Department have been retired, When the promised Warrant re-organizing that Department will be likely to be issued? COLONEL STANLEY, in reply, said, the Warrant referred to by the hon. and gallant Gentleman had been under consideration a long time, and he hoped it would be issued very shortly. LAW AND JUSTICE (IRELAND)—COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.-QUESTION. SIR JOSEPH M'KENNA asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether there has as yet been any appointment made to the judicial position of Judge of the Irish Court of Bankruptcy; and, if not, when an appointment is likely to be made? TURKEY-PROTECTORATE OF CON STANTINOPLE.-QUESTION. MR. H. SAMUELSON (for Mr. DILLWYN) asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether his attention has been called to a Reuter's Telegram, which appeared in the morning papers of the 12th of Decr. and dated from St. Petersburg on the 11th, to the effect that Count Münster had proposed to Lord Salisbury that in consideration of the unification of Eastern Roumelia with Bulgaria being permitted England should be allowed to assume the protectorate of Constantinople, and should occupy certain neighbouring positions, that negotiations on this subject still continue; and whether there is any foundation for this statement? THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: No, Sir; it has no foundation. There is no truth in the report at all. The German communications were confidential, and they referred merely to questions connected with the carrying out of the Treaty of Berlin. POOR LAW-LIVERPOOL-ALLEGED MISCONDUCT.-QUESTION. MR. STANSFELD asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether his attention has been drawn to an article in the "Freeman's Journal" of December 3rd, in which it is stated that a Poor Law officer charged with the convoy of one male and two female paupers from Liverpool to their native unions in Ireland, having reached Castleblayney and lodged one of the female |