ations on the coast of Syria. This motion
was carried _nem. con_. The same unanimity prevailed also in the commons
on the same subject.

POOR LAW AMENDMENT ACT.

On the 29th of January Lord John Russell moved in the house of commons
for leave to bring in "a bill to continue the poor-law commission for a
time to be limited, and for the further amendment of the laws relating
to the poor in England." The powers of the commissioners were to be
continued for ten years, and when his lordship had made this known,
several members, as Sir. Burdett, and Messrs. Wakley and Hume, opposed
such an extension of powers to them. Leave, however, was given to bring
in the bill on the 8th of February; and an important debate took place
on the second reading. The debate was opened by Mr. D'Israeli, who
opposed the bill, and moved that it should be read that day six months.
Mr. Wakley seconded this amendment. The motion was carried by a majority
of two hundred and one against fifty-four. But although the principle of
the bill was thus emphatically confirmed, yet on several occasions the
attacks upon it were renewed by its opponents with much acerbity. Upon
the motion for the committal of the bill, Mr. Townley Parker moved, and
Mr. Grimsditch seconded the motion, that it should be committed that day
six months: but this was negatived by a large majority, and the bill was
committed. When the bill was in committee, government gave up the
longer period of ten years for the continuance of the powers of the
commissioners, and reduced it to five, in deference to the opinion
expressed by Sir Robert Peel, and other members. After this, the
bill was considerably delayed in its progress by a great variety of
amendments suggested by members on both sides of the house, to several
of which government assented, and one or two of which were carried
against the wishes of ministers.

JEWS' CIVIL DISABILITIES REMOVAL BILL.

During this session, Mr. Divett, one of the members for Exeter,
introduced a bill, the object of which was to do away with the
declaration required by the municipal corporations act from all persons
taking corporate offices, by reason of which members of the Jewish
persuasion had been debarred from holding civic magistracies. This bill
was opposed on the second reading by Sir R. Inglis; but on a division
it was carried by a majority of one hundred and thirteen against
twenty-four. On the third reading Mr. Gladstone moved tha