is unanimously and cordially voted by the House of Commons-A scheme
for erecting new Law Courts in the neighbourhood of Lincoln's Inn is
proposed by the Government-Mr. Selwyn and Mr. Walpole oppose the
proposition-The Chancellor of the Exchequer supports it-It is rejected
on the division by 83 to 81-Debate in the House of Commons upon the
System of Competitive Examinations for the Civil Service-Mr. P. Hen-
nessy, Mr. Cochrane, Mr. Bentinck, and other Members object to the
system-Lord Stanley and Sir George Lewis defend it-The House sets
aside the Motion by negativing the previous question. LAW OF HIGH-
WAYS-Sir George Grey re-introduces the Bill for the Amendment of
Highway Law, which had been in former years proposed and withdrawn-
The Second Reading is carried, after some debate, by a majority of 111—
The Bill, with some modifications, passes through both Houses. TRANS-
FER OF LAND AND SECURITY OF TITLE TO PURCHASERS-Bills for effect-
ing these objects are brought in by the Lord Chancellor, and other Bills,
with similar objects, by Lord Cranworth, Lord St. Leonard's, and Lord
Chelmsford-Statement of the Lord Chancellor, on introducing his mea-
sures-Observations of several of the Law Lords-The several Bills are
referred to a Select Committee-Those of the Lord Chancellor pass
through the House of Lords, and are introduced in the House of Commons
by Sir Roundell Palmer, Solicitor-General-His able Speech on moving
the Second Reading of the Land Transfer Bill-Speeches of Sir H. Cairns,
Sir F. Kelly, Mr. Malins, and the Attorney-General-The Government
Bills pass a Second Reading-Sir H. Cairns moves to refer them to a
Select Committee, which is opposed by the Law Officers of the Crown-
The Bills go through a Committee of the whole House and become law.
AMENDMENT OF THE LAW OF LUNACY-The Lord Chancellor brings in a
Bill, which is carried through Parliament, to simplify and abridge the
inquiries under Commissions of Lunacy. GAME LAWS-A Bill introduced
by Lord Berners for the repression of Night Poaching, meets with much
opposition in both Houses-It is passed in the Lords, but strenuously
resisted by the Government and by Liberal Members in the House of
Commons-Sir Baldwin Leighton takes charge of the Bill, which is
strongly supported by many of the Conservative party-After much con-
troversy and many divisions in favour of the Bill, it is passed into a law.
EMBANKMENT OF THE THAMES-A Measure to carry out this object is
brought in by Mr. W. Cowper on behalf of the Government-It is referred
to a Select Committee, which recommends an important alteration in the
Scheme Imputations made against the Committee of having given too
much weight to private interests-Their Report occasions much contro-
versy Mr. Doulton moves the re-committal of the Bill, with a view to
the restoration of the original plan-A warm discussion ensues, in which
Mr. K. Seymer, Lord H. Vane, Sir J. Shelley, Mr. Horsman, Mr. Cowper,
and Lord Palmerston take part-Mr. Doulton's Amendment being con-
sidered premature is withdrawn-Mr. Locke proposes a Motion with the
same object at a later stage, which is carried by 149 to 109, and the
scheme of the Bill as introduced by the Government is adopted-The
Bill goes up to the House of Lords, where the Duke of Buccleugh makes
a statement in vindication of the course pursued by him-Earl Granville,
the Earl of Derby, and other Peers, acquit the noble Duke of all imputa-
tions, and the Bill is passed-End of the Session-Mr. Cobden gives notice
that he shall offer observations upon the policy of Lord Palmerston's
Administration-His Speech-He arraigns the aggressive spirit of the
Government as shown on many occasions-He compares the Premier's
conduct with that of the opposition Leader, unfavourably to the former
-Speech of Lord Palmerston in vindication of the Measures of his
Government, and of their conduct towards Foreign States-Speech of Mr.