lease of Mr. J. P. Quinn from Enniskillen Gaol; if it is the fact that, although he has been arrested for incitement to non-payment of rent, the Government can show no speech containing such incitement; whether he is aware that Mr. Quinn simply acted under Mr. Brennan, who has since been released, in the Land League office; and, if he can assign any reason for Mr. Quinn's continued detention, now that men holding higher positions in the Land League organization have been released? MR. TREVELYAN: His Excellency had this case under consideration on the day before yesterday, and is unable at present to order Mr. Quinn's release. I must repeat to the hon. Gentleman-what I have said in answer to many questions asked from various points of view-that I can enter into no detail in matters referring to the discretion of the Lord Lieutenant. EGYPT THE POLITICAL CRISIS. MR. BOURKE asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Has any reparation been demanded for the losses and injuries sustained by British subjects in the late disturbances in Egypt; and, if so, from whom; and, whether Papers cannot be now presented relating to the mission of Dervish Pacha, and the proceedings consequent thereupon? any, MR. SLAGG: Before the hon. Baronet answers that Question, I should like to ask another which relates to the same subject. It is, Whether he can give any information as to what steps, if have been taken by Her Majesty's Government in regard to the protection of the property of two citizens of Manchester-Mr. Dobson and Mr. Richardson-who lost their lives in the recent disturbances at Alexandria? I should | like also to refer the hon. Baronet, if the House will permit me, to an important telegram sent to me this morning from Alexandria. I may say that I have been waited upon by an influential deputation of merchants largely interested in British commerce in Egypt. They have laid before me telegrams which really describe a dreadful state of things in Alexandria. The telegram is to this effect, and addressed to a friend Mr. Healy of mine, who is possessed of ships in Alexandria "The Consul asks urgently, and for reasons of humanity, can you obtain permission from buyers of steamships to allow more than two voyages to Cyprus with fugitives? Do your utmost to arrange this matter, and obtain leave for more voyages if possible." It seems from the report my friend brings me that the people are leaving Alexandria in large numbers. Another friend has a telegram to the effect that European life and property are no longer safe. MR. O'DONNELL: Sir, that SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: Sir, I do not think it is desirable to allow Questions to be interpolated with other Questions. It is not fair to other Members who are waiting to put their Questions. The Question on the Paper to which I will reply is that of my right hon. Friend Mr. Bourke. I may say no claims have yet been presented. As soon as any such are received they will be referred in the usual manner to the Law Officers of the Crown. The Papers relating to the mission of Dervish Pasha cannot be detached from the rest of the Papers, which will be brought out as speedily as possible. With regard to the promise I made yesterday to the junior Member for Manchester (Mr. Jacob Bright), the Colleague of my hon. Friend (Mr. Slagg), I may say that we have received from the British Consul and Admiral at Alexandria a list of the British subjects reported killed. The list substantially agrees with that which has been published in the papers already, although there is one name published which does not appear in our list. With regard to the Question put by my hon. Friend (Mr. Slagg), I may say that a telegram has been received from Mr. Cookson, to the effect that steps have been taken to look after the private effects of Messrs. Dobson and Richardson. With regard to the other Question although I must apologize for interpolating an answer-as it has been asked I will answer it. A vessel from Port Said has been ordered to Alexandria for the reception of fugitives, and two other private ships have also been made available for persons who wished to go on board-providing, of course, they are persons whose means are such that they cannot reasonably be expected to pay for their passages. The first vessel was taken up by the Admiral | has reached the hon. Baronet that the to convey persons to Malta. I have no Eastern Telegraph Company had been knowledge with regard to the other two obliged to close its doors at Cairo ? ships. There appear to be about 300 British subjects in Alexandria who desire to quit at the present time. The total European population of Egypt is, of course, very large indeed. There are about 30,000 Greeks, 15,000 French, 15,000 Italians, and 4,000 British (including Maltese), and 4,000 Austrian and German subjects. SIR JOHN HAY: I wish to ask the hon. Baronet whether it is true that we have been afraid to bury persons who were Europeans in the cemetery at Alex andria, and that Her Majesty's Ship Superb has been used as a hearse to take the bodies to sea? SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: Notice' has been given that a Question like this will be put to-morrow, and I should prefer to answer then. MR. BOURKE: Are we to understand that the Papers relating to Dervish Pasha will be among the second batch of Papers that are promised? SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: The most important Papers are being hurried on, which relate to what has taken place up to the middle of May. The other Papers are being prepared as rapidly as possible, and it would be extremely inconvenient to lay a later Paper on the Table before an earlier one. SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE: When are we likely to get any of these Papers? MR. ONSLOW : May I also ask whether it is the intention of the Government, considering that these difficulties have arisen owing to the action of Her Majesty's Government, that those persons who can afford to pay for their passage are really to pay, or whether the Government do not intend to give a free passage to all, and also to victual them? SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: Up to the present Sir Edward Malet has not called upon British subjects to leave the country, nor have any other foreign Consuls called upon their fellow-subjects to do so. MR. O'KELLY: I should like to ask whether it is true that the Khedive has called on the Sultan for 18,000 or any other number of Turkish troops? ["Order!"] SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: I think the opinion of the House is that that Question should not be answered without Notice. MR. J. LOWTHER: Perhaps the hon. Baronet is now able to answer the Question of which I gave him Notice yesterday. It is, Whether Arabi Pasha was present at the conference which took place between Dervish Pasha and the Khedive; and, further, whether, in the Report which was made by the representatives of the Government in the first instance, it was not stated that Arabi was present? SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: I cannot give any promise; but the further MR. LABOUCHERE: On the same Papers are being got ready as rapidly subject I would like to ask whether the as possible. They are not yet in the hon. Gentleman would state whether the condition of the first revise, but the Vice Consul or any representative of Her second batch will be ready next week. Majesty's Government remains at Cairo The right hon. Gentleman must know-whether in that case Her Majesty's that there never has been a case in which important Papers were brought out with such rapidity as in this case. ["Oh, oh!" This is so, and it will be impossible, if you search the whole records of the Foreign Office, to find out Papers that have been presented with such rapidity. SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF: Will these Papers refer to matters up to the 17th of April? SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: To the middle of May. BARON HENRY DE WORMS: I should like to ask whether the rumour representative is in communication with Arabi, and whether he regards him as a traitor to his Sovereign, or a Minister of his Sovereign? [Cries of "Order!"] MR. SPEAKER: I think it is right to point out that in Questions of a grave character such as these the hon. Baronet is entitled to ask that Notice should be given, and also, if he thinks proper, to decline to answer on public grounds. Having made this observation, I do not think it my duty to interpose as regards the Question which has just been put. they thought the discussion that had taken place with regard to the Europeans had nothing to do with the objects of Dervish Pasha's mission in Egypt. That meeting was on Monday. MR. ONSLOW: Then why has the Khedive gone to Alexandria? MR. J. LOWTHER: The hon. Baronet has not noticed my second Question -Whether in the Report made by the British representatives in Egypt to Her Majesty's Government, it was stated that Arabi Pasha was present at the meeting just described? SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: Yes, Sir, it was so stated. It is a detailed Report, but I have just given the substance to the House. MR. O'DONNELL: With reference to the measures taken for the preservation of peace in Alexandria, I wish to ask if any steps have been taken towards bringing to justice the Europeans who are reported to have commenced the disturbances by stabbing Arabs? SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: It is impossible that the hon. Member should know what I am about to say. I rose for the purpose of answering the right hon. Gentleman opposite (Mr. J. Lowther), as his Question seemed to grow out of the the Question on the Paper. I was going to decline to reply to the hon. Member for Northampton (Mr. Labouchere), because his Question does not seem to grow out of the one on the Paper. As regards the right hon. Gentleman's Question, it would have been better if it had been on the Paper, so that an SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: That answer might have been given to it in Question does not seem to grow out of the ordinary way. The meeting which the one on the Paper, and I am unable took place between the European Con- to give the House any information on suls was a meeting between the Repre- the subject, because I think any infor sentatives of Germany, Austria, Italy,mation I give should be of a wellRussia, France, and England. There founded character. were present at that meeting the Khedive, Dervish Pasha, and the whole of his suite from Constantinople, and Arabi Pasha also. The object of that meeting was to receive an answer to a demand that had been made on Dervish Pasha by the Representatives of the Powers in regard to steps which should be satisfactory to the Great Powers to insure the safety of Europeans in Egypt. Dervish Pasha stated that Arabi had informed him that he would implicitly obey the orders given by the Khedive. The Khedive immediately issued orders for restoring the public tranquillity. These are the words to which I alluded yesterday— "Dervish Pasha said that under the urgent circumstances of the case he would assume joint responsibility with Arabi Pasha for the execution of the orders of the Khedive." The European Consuls then said that the danger to the security of Europeans took precedence over all other questions for the moment, and that the political situation did not enter into the discussion. They also said to the Khedive and the Imperial Commissioners that EDUCATION DEPARTMENT-THE HALL MR. MUNDELLA: Sir, when the application was made in 1879 for the recognition of the science classes at the Hall of Science, the teachers returned were Dr. Aveling, Doctor of Science, London, and B.A. of Cambridge, with Annie Besant and E. Richardson as assistants. When my attention was first called to this matter by the hon. Member for Harwich (Sir Henry Tyler), Mrs. Besant and the Misses Bradlaugh were | about these grants until a Question was acting as assistants to Dr. Aveling. No put to me by the hon. Member for Harchange has taken place since that time wich. Those grants were made while except that the Misses Bradlaugh have the noble Lord the Member for Middlepassed the necessary examination for sex (Lord George Hamilton) was Vice teachers, and have been recognized as President of the Council, occupying my such. In reply to the last Question of position. They were continued for two the hon. Member, my statement on years, and I find nothing to justify me Thursday last was that these classes in withdrawing those grants, and I take "were admitted to grants by the late all responsibility for their continuance. Government." What I wished to convey by that was that they were admitted to grants during the late Administration. I am quite prepared to assume the responsibility for the continuance of the grant, as well as for the recognition of the Misses Bradlaugh as qualified teachers. Under the conditions upon which grants are made, as laid down by the "Science Directory," no Administration would be justified in refusing to recognize these classes or their teachers. LORD GEORGE HAMILTON: The right hon. Gentleman is, no doubt, correct in one sense in stating that the late Government recognized these classes. As I was at that time at the Education Office, perhaps the House will allow me to state what had occurred. Certain rules are laid down as to the recognition of science classes; and if these provisions are complied with, as a matter of course the application is sanctioned. Application, I believe, was made in regard to these classes in the latter months of the last Administration. It was made by a committee, at the head of which was a clergyman of the Church of England, and as it seemed, no doubt, to the officer of the Department that the conditions had been com plied with, the application was passed; but neither the Lord President, nor my self, nor any senior permanent official, was aware that any classes had been recognized in connection with the Hall of Science. I do not wish to censure the decision arrived at by the present Government; but what I want to say is this, that that decision was adopted on a full and complete knowledge of all the facts, in the ignorance of which a mere formal sanction was given by the late Government. MR. MUNDELLA: Sir, I have always understood that when anything is done in the Department under my control by my subordinate officers that I am responsible, and I wish distinctly to repeat that until 1881 I knew nothing SCIENCE AND ART-THE NATIONAL MR. COOPE asked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether the Government is now prepared to carry out the long needed extension of the buildings of the National Gallery, in order to give sufficient space, not only for the works of art already in the possession of the Nation, but also for those which may be presented or bequeathed by private individuals; and, whether greater facilities in future will be afforded to the public to visit the National Collection by lighting the Galleries by Electricity on certain evenings in the week? MR. SHAW LEFEVRE: Sir, the Estimates for the current year contain no provision for making an addition to the buildings of the National Gallery. The very heavy expenditure for completing the Natural History Museum and the New Law Courts has prevented the Government from entertaining many other demands in respect of public buildings. With reference to the use of the electric light in the National Gallery, the responsibility rests wholly with the Trustees; but I think they would be wise in waiting the results of experiments in other public buildings, especially as regards their safety. PRISONS (ENGLAND) ACT-PRISON MR. R. N. FOWLER asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he will cause an independent, or effectually searching, inquiry to be made into the truth, or otherwise, of the numerous complaints against convict prison management which, for months past, have appeared in the "Civil Service Gazette" and other newspapers, and purporting to be written by the warders of those prisons; and, whether it is true, as recently stated in a letter in the "Times," signed "Assistant War der," at Chatham, that assaults upon | respect of which deductions for tenants' the warders "with the fist, stones, improvements are made from the rent, bricks, &c. are of almost daily occur- under Clause 8, sub-section 9, together rence?" with the amount so deducted; and, if he would have any objection to lay upon the Table of the House a specimen Copy of the order made out in such cases? SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT: Sir, whenever any allegations are brought forward against the management of prisons I always take care that strict inquiry is made into them. For that purpose I have the valuable assistance of Visiting Committees and of the Visitors of the convict prisons, who are entirely independent of the Government. I am happy to say that the Prison Congress the other day gave an unanimous and favourable verdict in favour of the management of prisons. But the prison authorities have a responsible duty in maintaining discipline among the worst classes of society, and I cannot entertain or give credit to anonymous charges in newspapers made by convicts who do not give their names, or by warders who may or may not have been discharged, and who adduce no evidence of what they allege. In my opinion, if I did so I should seriously injure prison discipline, and give encouragement to insubordination. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON): No, Sir; the Assistant Commissioners do not in their orders fixing fair rents specify the improvements in respect of which deductions from former rents are made, nor do they specify the amount deducted. Each order is accompanied by a Schedule of improvements, but the amount of money added to or deducted from the rent in respect of such improvements is not stated in the Schedule. There is no objection to laying a specimen copy of the order made in such cases on the Table; but it is already published in the Appendix to the Report of the Lords' Committee. NAVY-LIABILITY OF OFFICERS- MR. ST. AUBYN asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether Naval and Marine officers placed upon half-pay THE PENAL SERVITUDE COMMISSION, since March 1870 are liable to be called 1879-SPIKE ISLAND. MR. MULHOLLAND asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, What steps are being taken to carry out the recommendation of Lord Kimberley's Commission on Penal Servitude as regards the abolition of Spike Island Convict Prison, and what is the cause of the delay in presenting the Report by the Committee on Convict Labour, appointed some months ago; and, how many times the Committee had met up to the present time? SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT: Sir, as to Spike Island, I have not yet received an answer. The Report of the Committee is in draft, and it will be adopted before the end of the present month. LAND LAW (IRELAND) ACT, 1881- MR. TOTTENHAM asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the Sub-Commissioners under the Land Act, in making out their orders as to judicial rents, are in the habit of specifically defining the items in Mr. R. N. Fowler upon to serve? MR. CAMPBELL - BANNERMAN: Sir, I presume that the Question of the hon. Member refers to officers on retired pay, as all naval officers on half-pay are, of course, liable to serve; and officers of the Royal Marines placed temporarily on half-pay from ill-health, or on reduction of establishment, may also, at any time, be recalled to full pay if fit. With regard to naval officers who have been placed on the Retired List since 1870, it is laid down in Article 254 of the Queen's Regulations that they may be called into active service in case of war or emergency. There is no such definite provision regarding retired Marine officers; but it has never been doubted that, in such circumstances, all who are capable of serving Her Majesty would be ready to do so. ARREARS OF RENT (IRELAND) BILL— THE IRISH CHURCH FUND. MR. ANDERSON asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether, under the scheme for creating a graduated surplus on the Irish Church Fund, showing |