Hearing that matters were in a very precarious, if not a dangerous state at Muar, the Administrator of the Straits Settlement (Colonel Anson) thought it his duty to apply to the Maharaja of Johor to take temporary charge of that little Province. That determination was reported home, and after some considerable consideration agreed to by himself (the Earl of Carnarvon), who at that time directed the Colonial affairs of the country. He agreed to that course mainly for two reasons-first, because he thought it would be dangerous to reverse the decision of Colonel Anson; and secondly, because he felt that the great danger which he had to guard against at that time was any intervention which would result in the annexation of the Province in question. Many of their Lordships were aware how very hard a fight was waged at that time in order to prevent the annexation of a very large part of the Peninsula itself. The local feeling was very strong, and the Governor had unfortunately com

result of the election was that the Maharaja of Johor was unanimously chosen. The noble Lord had asked that that action should not be upheld; but he (Earl Cadogan) would point out to the noble Lord that, the election having taken place, and having been made under conditions of perfect freedom, and without the exertion of any undue pressure, it would be very difficult, if not impossible, for the Government to say that it should be upset, and that some other person should be elected. The Government had no wish to interfere further than was absolutely necessary in the internal affairs of this small State. All they wished to do was to see that peace was preserved; and as they had selected their Sovereign, who, so far as it was known, was a very good and intelligent man, the Government had no intention to take any steps to alter the election. It was quite true that, under the Treaty of 1855, the Maharaja of Johor, in consideration of the government which was vested in him, was to pay down $5,000 and $500 a-month after-mitted himself to a policy of annexation. wards, and, at the suggestion of Sir William Robinson, who went out in 1877, and felt that the family of the late Sultan might consider themselves ill-used by the turn affairs had taken, the Maharaja of Johor decided upon a second monthly payment of $725; but the family of the late Sultan declined to receive this, and the money was, therefore, paid into the Treasury at Singapore, where it would remain until the family should come to a more sensible determination. There was not the least objection to the production of the Papers for which the noble Lord asked.

It was for these reasons that he had sanctioned the arrangement of Colonel Anson. But anyone who would refer to his (the Earl of Carnarvon's) despatches of that time would see that he agreed to it only as a temporary and provisional measure, which was to have no effect until the feeling of the country had been ascertained. The despatch containing these views was written in September, 1877, and in 1878 he resigned the Seals of Office. Two or three months then elapsed in which no action was taken by the present Colonial Secretary, and in this interval an election was made which, he apprehended, was a proper and regular one. The Chiefs were summoned and unanimously agreed that the Maharaja of Johor should be

THE EARL OF CARNARVON said, that he did not see how, under the circumstances, it was possible to recall the recognition that had been given by the Colonial Office to the election of the pre-confirmed in the Sovereignty of the Prosent Maharaja of Johor. He, therefore, fully approved of what had been said by his noble Friend (Earl Cadogan). By the will left by Sultan Aly, the son of his favourite wife was designated as his heir. That, however, was an invalid proceeding, as the Sultan should have called together a Council of the Chiefs and declared his pleasure with regard to his successor before them. As the Sultan did not take that course, his youthful son, by Malay custom, possessed no rightful claim to the Throne. Earl Cadogan

vince. The whole question turned upon the spontaneity of this expression of opinion by the Chiefs, and, as far as he could understand, there could be no doubt whatever that the Chiefs who voted were those who ought to have been consulted, and that they came to the decision which he had mentioned with perfect unanimity. The election was held after the most distinct orders had been issued by him that there should not be any interference whatever with the free opinion of the Chiefs and

people.
subsequently by the Administrator that
no sort of tampering had taken place.
Under all those circumstances, although
Sir Michael Hicks-Beach seemed for
some time to be doubtful on the subject,
he had now recognized the Maharaja of
Johor. There was, therefore, no reason
why the Papers should not be given.
He desired to add that the Maharaja
had great claims on the British Govern-
ment, for he was one of those rare and
remarkable examples which were some-
times found in Oriental life of a Native
Prince, accepting Western civilization
and throwing himself actively into the
work of civilizing his country. His ad-
ministrative ability was very great; he
possessed the means and the will of de-
veloping the resources of the country,
and had justified his position by a re-
markable degree of success. Beyond
that, the Chiefs had plainly signified
their approval of his retention of his
present position. The noble Lord who
brought forward the subject (Lord
Stanley of Alderley) asked the Govern-
ment to do what appeared to be simply
impossible-namely, that they should
recall their recognition of the Maharaja
in favour of a man avowedly and con-
fessedly his inferior in administrative
ability who would certainly govern the
country after the fashion of the thousand
and one Native Princes who had mis-
ruled in its past history, and to recall it
on a mere doubt, because the evidence
was, in his opinion, strongly in favour
of the Prince who had been elected. He
did not think it possible to recall that
recognition, and by refusing to do so
they would be doing substantial justice,
and that which was most for the interest
of the little country in question.

Assurances were also given | with Sir William Jervois against annexa-
tion, confirmed the complaint which was
generally made against him by the coun-
try, that he argued with his Colonial
Governors instead of giving them in-
structions; and he would describe the
consequences of such hesitation in the
noble Earl's own words-

LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEY, in reply, said, he thanked the noble Earl the Under Secretary of State (Earl Cadogan) for the Papers, and for his reply as to the payments of the Maharaja, which was more favourable than he had expected. He must be allowed to contradict what had been said by the noble Earl (the Earl of Carnarvon) of the inferior birth of Tunku Alum; there was a confusion in the noble Earl's mind on that subject with regard to another son. There was no such thing as inferior birth; but, if so, the Maharaja was not of Royal blood at all. The noble Earl, by what he had just said of his struggle

"So spake he with a wavering mind,

But when he once had bowed to fate, Came o'er his soul like change of wind, A spirit base and insensate." Motion agreed to.

THE ADMIRALTY-THE NAVAL
DEPARTMENT.

QUESTION.

OBSERVATIONS.

THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWN rose to call attention to the condition of the Naval Department of the Admiralty, and to ask, When it was intended to undertake the re-organization of that office? Their Lordships would doubtless understand that by the Naval Department of the Admiralty was meant the Secretary's Office. In that Department all the important business of the Admiralty was transacted. The policy of the Admiralty, the whole administration of the Navy, all the communications with the Fleet, were maintained through this Office. It was, therefore, of the first importance that it should be maintained in a state of the highest efficiency. Many years since it was recognized that considerable changes were required as well in the personnel, as in the constitution of the Office, and the distribution of the various duties carried on in it. The first step towards those changes was taken in 1866, when entries were stopped in the Department; but since then nothing further had been done in the direction of the re-organization of the Office, and, consequently, the junior clerks had served more than 13 years. Since the year to which he had referred every other Department of the Admiralty had undergone considerable changes, and the present Government last Session made provision for dealing with the Secretary's Office under the Admiralty Offices Reorganization Act. The re-organization of the Office had not been carried out, and some immediate action must be taken, the Act in question having only one year to run. The number of clerks in the Office had been reduced from 50 to about 30, some of whom had

served over 40 years, and a very small | further reduction would be necessary. He had read a statement made in "another place" that the Board of Admiralty were in correspondence with the Treasury on the subject; but all who had experience of correspondence in the Treasury would know that it might last for weeks, or for years, or even for a life-time; and he was anxious to know whether anything in the shape of reorganization was likely soon to take place? He ventured to hope that there would be no delay in this instance, and that he would receive a favourable answer to his Question. He should be content to learn that it was in contemplation to appoint a Committee of Inquiry.

able to state the total number of officers, | informing me that the Return of the non-commissioned officers, and men re- proceedings will be one of great length spectively of the Imperial Forces and of probably 5,000 folios; and he wants the Native Contingent who have died in to know who is to bear the cost of makSouth Africa from the date of the de-ing it. I have no means of paying that claration of war against Cetewayo up expense; but I have written to him to the present time? again to say that the Order of the House must be obeyed.

vaal and Natal. That arrangement has been quite recently made. The affairs of Cyprus were left under the administration of Colonel Greaves. They still remain under his administration; but no decision has been at present arrived at as to what will be done hereafter.

SIR JULIAN GOLDSMID: Is Sir Garnet Wolseley to be Governor of Cyprus as well as of the Transvaal and Natal?

MR. ASSHETON CROSS: I have nothing more to say on this case at present than what I have already stated. The matter is to be brought before the House, as I understand, by the hon. Member for South Warwickshire (Sir Eardley Wilmot); and I must reserve any remarks further until he introduces the subject. I think it will then be seen that due attention has been paid to the

matter.

SYSTEM.-QUESTION.

MR. H. B. SHERIDAN asked the President of the Local Government

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: I think the hon. Gentleman POOR LAW-DUDLEY, &c.-THE TRUCK really must see what the state of the case is. I do not quite see what is the motive of his question. Sir Garnet Wolseley, being Governor and High Commissioner of Cyprus, came over here on leave for purposes of a Departmental character. Within the last two days, in fact, he has received an appointment to another post. The matter is one which, of course, has occupied a great deal of the attention of the Government. Colonel Greaves is left in charge of Cyprus; but what arrangements are to be made at Cyprus is a matter at present under the consideration of the Government. It is impossible for me to say more than that.

Board, Whether he is aware that the men who are engaged to work in the and Rowley, are paid by such parishes parishes of Dudley, Tipton, Sedgley, partly in wages and partly in truck" as it is called; whether he is aware that great complaints are made by the men as to this mode of payment; and, whether he can take any steps to provide against a continuance of this system?

MR. SCLATER-BOOTH, in reply. the Guardians of the parishes referred said, the out-door paupers relieved by to had the labour test applied to thema system which he thought very conducive to the interests of the poor and the rights of the labouring classes.

RIBBONISM (IRELAND)—TYRONE.

QUESTION.

SIR JULIAN GOLDSMID: The right hon. Gentleman says he does not understand the motive of the Question. My motive is simply to know in what hands the government of Cyprus is going to be placed, and to know whether Colonel Greaves merely represents Sir Garnet Wolseley during his absence, and wheMR. CALLAN asked the Chief Sether Sir Garnet Wolseley holds two ap-cretary for Ireland, Whether he will pointments at the same time? It is not my purpose to find any fault with the Government, inasmuch as I cordially approve of their appointment of Sir Garnet Wolseley.

CRIMINAL LAW-CASE OF EDMUND

GALLEY.-QUESTION.

MR. HOPWOOD asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he has been able to give further consideration to the case of the

convict Edmund Galley, reprieved from sentence of death in 1836; whether (as it has been stated in a weekly journal) he has had the assistance of the Law Officers of his department in considering the evidence; and, what is the result at which he and they have arrived as to the innocence of the man?

The Chancellor of the Exchequer

have any objection to place upon the
Table of the House the Reports from
the constabulary authorities or resident
magistrates of the county of Tyrone, if
any such exist, for the years 1878 and
1879, which tend to show that certain
districts in and about Holyhill are in-
fected with ribbonism and infected with
illicit distillation?

I cannot lay these Papers upon the
MR. J. LOWTHER: Sir, I am afraid
Table, as they are always treated as
highly confidential, and their production

would be attended with inconvenience.

NATIONAL SCHOOL TEACHERS (IRE-
LAND)-LEGISLATION.-QUESTION.

SIR JOSEPH M'KENNA (for Mr.
MELDON) asked the Chief Secretary for
Ireland, When he proposes to introduce