The Sun. — London, England, 1863-06-16 00:00:00

IMPERLIAT, B, HOUSE OF LORDS---Last Eveni g. Thy Lord Chancellor took hiy seat at the usual hour. PRIVATE BUSINESS. Finch Hattor's Estate bill was read a second time. THIRD READINGS. The North Staffordshire Railway (Additional Powers) and tho Exeter Gaol bills were read a third time and passed. THE CASE OF MR. BISHOP. The Marquis of NORMANBY said he had given notice that he would ask for the production of a despatch made by Sir James Hudson on the 25th of February, which was quoted by his noble friend (Earl Russell) as ccntaining the assurance on the part of the Piedmont Cabinet that Mr. Bishop would be liberated. He understood when he gave notice that the Secretary of. State for Foreign Affairs would have no objection to produce the despatch.. Earl RUSSELL said be was about to present to the house, by command of her Majesty, extracts from the despatch referred to by the noble marquis. The promise of pardon to Mr. Bishop by the Italian Government was .to he carried into effect on the first, favourable opportunity, and that promise was, as soon as brigandage was sup pressed and the state of -the• country would permit. He had seen a report in the newspapers, bat he had no positive information on, the point, that the ex-King of Naples was about to quit Rome;. and if: that - was so he had no doubt...it would go a - greatway, to pui down brigandage. With re'speette . the health of Mr; gaol), General Mar mora had sent a medical gentleman to see Mr. Bishop, and he had reported that that gentleman's health would not suffer pr6vided he was not enbjeCteel to any severe labour. That opinion had been sent to Turin, and he believed that no fears need be,entertained. as to the treatment Mr. Bishop would receive. THE BRAZILS. The Earl of MALMESBURY gave notice that on Fri day next, in calling 'attention to eur relations with the Brazils, he should move for copies of any papers shOwing on what grounds the Government of the Brazil/3 resisted the claims for £3,200 compensation. • THE WAR IN-AMERICA. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE moved for copies of any report thaf may haVe been received from the 'Admiral commanding her Majesty's squadron on the North Ameri can and West India concerning the protection from seizure or visitation afforded to British merchantmen by the Ariadne and other of her Majesty's: ships or gunboats or otherwi'se, and asked 'what had been the result of the remonstrances "made to the United States Government by her Majesty's Minister against the seizure of certain British vessels. He dwelt with particular emphasis , on therreeent condemnation' of th'e'Adeta , as contrary to all principles of international law, and considered it was the duty of the Government CO demand her restoration. The noble marquis contended the country ought to afford adequate protection to her commercial mains, and denounced the setZure_of vesseld bound to Meta:sores and Naseau, as a means of monopolising the trade tothe first mentioned plate for the b e nefit of Naw York shippers, a state of things which ought not to be recognised. Earl RUSSELL said that his noble friend had given them a lecture on international law, in which he had not qUoted a single dictum of an Americanjudge in support of statements which he had made entirely out of his ownhead. As to the assertion of his noble friend that the captain of an American man-of-war was bound -to give up a vessel which he had seized became the reasons assigned for seizing her were incomplete, he (Earl Russell) would not go so far; neither would he say the contrary. But if the ship were taken before a prize court, and, upon examination of her cargo, goods were found in her sufficient to condemn her, he (Earl Russell) would say that she might be condemned. His noble friend said that vessels should be taken in the act of attempting to break the blockade, and not on the open sea; but he (Earl Russell) said that it was not necessary the ship should be taken in the very attempt to break the blockader. If she were taken with contraband of war in the neiglibmrhood of the blockaded place she might be con demned. His noble friend said that the object of the Ameri can Government was to, vex our commerce and embarrass our legal trade. But in another part he told them of the successful breaches of blockade effected by British vessels. The two things did not go well together. For his (Earl Russell's) own part, he was not inclined to attribute to the American Government an hostile attention. But he had thought it necessary to send instructions to Lord Lyons to state to the American Government that such a feeling was entertained in this country. He had no special information to give his noble friend:, but he could not agree in his Munro doctrine as to the right of blockade of a coast. We had blockaded the coast of France from Brest to Dunquerque, and we had blockaded 2,000 miles of the American coast, and we would still hold the right to do so if we were at war again with America He had taken the opinion of the law _officers of the Crown upon the construc tion of the treaty of Paris i and they held that under it the blockade of the Confederate coast was consistent. It might not be well to be too ready to resent an imaginary affront ; but the noble lord might rely upon it that he would not be satisfied with any decision that was not based upon justice. The Duke of SOMERSET said that the admiral on the station (Admiral Milne) informed him that his officers bora testimony to the uniform courtesy which they had ex perienced from the officers of Admiral Wilkes's squadron. Those papers to which there was no abjection would be laid upon the table. PRISONS MINISTERS BILL. The house went into committee on this bill. Lord LYVEDEN moved an amendment to clause 3; making the appointment of additional ministers to prisons compulsory instead of permissive. After some discussion the amendment was ,negatived, and the clause was agreed to. . - • The bill then went through committee: - • • ' - SALMON FISHERIES (SCOTLAND) FILL. This bill went through committee. THE CASE OF SERGEANT-MAJOR LILLEY. The Earl of SHAFTESBURY asked the Secretary of War whether it was the intention of the Government to in stitute any further inquiry into the case of Lieutenant- Colonel Crawley and Sergeant-Major Lilley, 'lt was not his intention to offer any observations upon the case at present. He had no official information. But, right or wrong as the rumours regarding it might be, he should say that so dreadfil a picture as the case to which he alluded preeented had never yet been brought before the British public, Everything which had taken place re garding it as yet had been Most unsatisfactory, and it was of the very highest importance to the character of the country and to the estimation in which it was held by foreign nations that the case should be properly investi gated. He knew of nothing which had more deeply moved the people of England. They were most anxious that the case should be probed to the bottom. He should therefore at present simply ask the question of which he had givdn notice. The . Duke of CAMBRLDGE—Before my noble friend the Secretary of State for War .replies to the question p a t by the noble earl, I think your lordship& will permit me to interpose, in order that I maymake one or two observations, not in reference to the circumstances connected with the court martial upon the late Paymaster Smale, nor with rice ference to anything that may occur hereafter, should it be found necessary to have a court-martial on Lieut.-Colonel Crawley ; but so much has been said with respect to the position I fill, and the line I have taken with regard to this melancholy proceeding, that it is right your lordships and the country should know the exact relative position in which I, filling the high position which I have the honour to fill, stand with reference to the commander-in - chief in India, and, in short, how I stand in reference to the whole matt6r. Probably it is not known to your lordships that the conduct of the discipline of the army in India rests entirely with the commander-in -chief in India, and that, so far as my supervision extends, it is merely in the position of a referee in a last appeal. But so seldom is that appeal exercised, that I believe no instances, or at least some very remote in- , stances, are on record in which any interference on the part of the Commander-in-Chief in England has been made with court-martials in India. To such an extent does this go, that wherever the Couiraander-in-Chief submits to her. Ma ielty the name of any officer who has been tried by court mares., in England and cashiered, though the actual cashier ing dop e not t a k e place until the Queen's ple asure has b een t akenalie fiat of the commander-in-chief in India is a bsolute and no refertlnce is made to her Majesty at all. The noble earl 2°ight B ' 7 then,why take notice of the affairs at all P I will ex plain myself shortly-Commander in-C h ief No doubt there is a last appeal to the in England, and the course of proceed ing is this-_ When rep o et takes place in India the circumstance t to the C om mander-in-Chief at home as have taken pl ate. hi e order that he may know how to, act in such proce e di ngs. T he itself is transmitted re port of the court-martial to the lodgeth Advocate -General in E n gland, and he ftrwarda ittoo Commander-in-Chief, .that he may have an opportunity of ee at the proceed irigs and return it as a record t the looking Judge- Advocate Gene raliewledge I must When these proceedings cam e t om Ykfelt s there was c onfess that, like the noble earl opposite, n some thing very peou liar and so mething most them. It str uck me as so remarkable, that I thonginar hf;l in right th a t the course adopted should, to a great extent, be re viewed by the Com mander-in -Chief at home, and hisopin: ion taken upon it. Having arrived at that conclusion, h ow was I to act ? Was I to remove the officer chiefly implicated in the charge, or not ? In reviewing this case, I find that it is certainly in evidence that an unfortune affair has occur . red ; but, at the same time, I must say frankly hti that my in formation on the subject is not perfect. At the of m al e l t m he y f in ac e t; morandum was made, I was not in possesst of the case. There was much left behind which I t t will in time be elicited, and therefore I abstained from expres sing any decided or positive opinion on thefiesdubjo I stated very clearly , that unless I was satis fied stain carious points on which I had considerable doubt, I should.absotin. from the extreme course of removing the commanding m cer from the command of his regiment. It has been sa id that the reason why no action was taken was that two en nent men were concerned in the transaction. Of course allude to Sir H. Rose and Sir W. Mansfield. There is no doubt that those two eminent and distinguished o ffi cers were concerned in the transaction, and the q uestion that arose was, were they concerned in such a manner as that I was caned on to take ectionwith regard to them P 1 most POSi' tively and most conscientiously believe that those two dis ting,hished officers have had every desire to do what was right, but that they committed a very serious error of judg ment. That is my conviction ; and I believe runt this will eventually he found to be the case. But even to the case of the irregularity of the imprisonment, cons ler: ble import ance is attached. That irregularity was not known to me when my memorandum was written. It is only recently that that has come to my knowledge, and of course it was impossible for me to decide in the case when I really and truly did not know the circumstances. I cannot believe there can be any personal feeling in this matter with regard to two such distinguished men—men not merely of high military but private character in the various positions which they had filled. Considering their positions and re putations, I thought that if they had erred it was only in judgment, and certainly not out of the desire to do any act of injustice, cruelty, or wrong. That consideration un doubtedly had weight with me, and I appeal to your lord ships whether it ought not to have had weight with me. (Hearvhear.) Would any official have been justified in coming to a rash conclusion in so very delicate a position ? The result of this, I trust, will be to prove that, in both cases, I have not acted so unadvisedly as ; am accused of having done. For .what occurred P Why, at a very recent period, circumstances have come to my knowledge that render it necessary we should bring Lieutenant-Colonel Crawley to court-martial. lam not going to enter into the case which is pending a judicial trial; but the circumstances to which I allude have only come to my knowledge quite recently. Within a few days I have been placed in a position to advise that that trial should take place on the merits of the case. A great deal of time has elapsed since the circumstances of the case first occurred. I may be asked why so much delay has occurred. I answer that the whole affair occurred "in India—it takes three months to communicate with India and getbatk a reply. Hardly,a single letter,hne, l 3cen written Upon this subjeCt th a t h as not . required an otherquestionon Ole answer and a fresh delay for another reply, with another delay of three months. The result is that a longer period has been suffered to elapse,than I could wish or your lord ships expect. A still further delay must occur on this ac- Count. Sir William Mansfield, under whom the regiment is serving, stationed in Bombay. But the command of all the that from i s Bombay e every rr o ques tionEen- troops in India is vested in th e co mmander - in - chief, who is Stationed in Bengal. T of•this description goeshe rl before it can come to us. This adds to th e d e l ay . I a a ave felt boUnd to point out this, in order to show that what has been done has not been done with a view to shield or pereen any one, but with a strict and earnest desire to do justice to all—not alone to do justice to the general feeling of distress at the painful circumstances which have occurred, and which are most natural, but to do justice to those who have been implicated, and to whom I am sure your lordships would wish to give every possible opportunity of defending and justifying themselves, if it be possible for them to do so. That is the only feeling I have and as for saying there has been any pressure put upon me, of course I spurn the idea. But it does happen that the question was never discussed :by me with a sThgle individual, except in the most official 'manner, and then only with one on whom I was able to rely for advice and information, and a sound and just and safe conclusion. ('~Tean) "The Earl DE GREY and RIPON observed that the 'speech of the royal duke relieved him of the necessity of saying more than a few words on the subject. In regard, to the court-martial en Lieut.-Col. Crawley, the precise nature of those charges was now under the consideration of the proper authorities, and it would be improper for him to express any opinion upon the subject. Every step would be taken to ensure that the inquiry should be conducted in the most open manner, and with perfect fairness to all parties concerned. The Earl of SHAFTESBURY hoped the inquiry would take place in England, and not be transferred to India, where in fact it had already been prejudged by the allega tion that Sergeant-Major Lilley's death was the result of habitual intoxication. The Earl of MALMESBUEY said that be had that day seen a letter from Sir Hugh Rose, stating that his assertion to the effcct mentioned was grounded on the statement of the surgeon of the quantity of spirits supplied to Sergeant- Major Lilley while under arrest. The subject was then allowed to drop. The Vaccination (Ireland) Bill was read a third time and passed. The Bleaching and Dyeing (Ireland) Bill was read a second time. The Redemption of Rents (Ireland) Bill was considered as amended, and agreed to. DUCHY OF CORNWALL MANAGEMENT BILL. This bill was read a third time and passed. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening. The SPEAKER took the chair at the usual hour. The following bills were read a second time :—Lands Im provement Company—London (City) Traffic Regulation— Sligo and Ballaghaderreen Junction Railway—Meux's Estate. The following bills were read a third time :—Birming ham and Sutton Coldfield Extension Railway—Devon :Valley Railway—Haddingtonshire Roads—London and North Western Railway (new branch lines)—Tendring Hundred Railway—and Wexford Free Bridge. The following bills were considered and ordered to be read a third time.— J un ,t;‘.., Rnilmay (Extension of Time), Bishops Waltham Railway, Bonnelli's Electric Telegraph Company, Galway Water, Kettering and Thrapstone Railway, London and North Western Railway (additional powers), Midland Railway (Bristol line), Mistley, Thorpe, and Walton Railway, and North British Railway (Wansbeck Railway, &c,) PETITIONS. By Mr. WALPOLE, from the University of Cambridge, under its corporate seal, praying that no alteration might 'hem:de/ill the Uniformity Act ; and by Mr. AYR.TON, from Volunteers, Tower Hamlets, against certain clauses in the Volunteers THE RECENT COURT MARTIAL AT MHO W. Mr. CONINGHAM gave notice that on an early day, on going into committee, he should call attention to the re cent court-martial on Mr. Smale, and move a resolution thereon. THE COTTON DISTRICTS.-UNEMPLOYED OPERATIVES. Mr, FBRRAND gave notice that he should to-morrow ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, looking at the distress now suffered by the artizans, he did not deem it expedient to devote a morning sitting to the subject. NEW TELEGRAPHIC LINE TO NORTH AMERICA. Mr, CAVE asked the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether her Majesty's Government had received information respecting an international conference, which, according to the lifoniteur, had been opened in Paris, for the purpose of examining into the project of a telegraphic line from Europe to North America, via Brazil, and the West Indies, and whether any steps had been taken for the representation of this country at such conference ? Mr. LAYARD replied it was quite true that there had been such a conference. Proposals had been made to the British Government to take part in it ; but the Treasury, looking at the engagements into which it had entered, had not deemed it advisable to accede to the proposal. JAPAN. Mr. LIDDELL asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the precise nature of the demands made by her Majesty's Government upon the Government of japan, in the shape of reparation for outrages committed upon British subjects in that country; and, whether theme would be any objection to state what instructions had been sent to the British admiral 'on the station as to the steps to be taken in the event of the Tycoon's refusal to comply with those demands. 'Mr. LAYARD replied that some months ago a muv. derous attack etas made on a British subject riding on a public road, open by treaty to British residents. A Mr. Richardson was killed, two other gen e tlemen were seriously wounded, and a lady narrowly escaped, almost by a miracle, with her life. An apology had been de manded, and the payment of £lOO,OOO as a penalty. (Hear, hear, hear.) It appeared that the parties who committed the outrage consisted of a band of persons with whom were ass3ciated a native, prince and his father. A demand had been made that the guilty parties should be tried, and if found guilty, executed. (Hear.) L25,0e0 had also been demanded 'for the family of th 6 vie - 1151s of this outrageous assault. In June last year two marines were murdered, who were guarding the Britibh legation, and £lO,OOO had been demanded for their families. He did not know whether the Government of Japan had power to carry out the proposals, but probably the next mail would bring definite intelligence. NEW WRIT—LISBURN. On the motion of Colonel TAYLOR, a new writ was ordered to be issued. THE PURCHASE OF THE GREAT INTERNA- TIONAL EXHIBITION. Lord PALMERSTON appealed to the hon. member for Tipperary to postpone his motion, so that the discussion on the proposed vote might not be delayed. The hon. and learned member for King's county had put off his motion to that day week. The O'DONOGHUE said, after the way the noble lord had treated the question of the Irish Church, he really did not feel disposed to give way if he had his motion on the forpaper T this evenin g , w hi c h was a m i sta k e o f th e noble and for additions and alterations. He thought London might most justly be styled the commercial capital of the world, and hence ranked high among the commercial centres of the world, its great size and the crowding of its buildings tended greatly to impair its architectural beauties. The streets were narrow and its open places few and small. Its public buildings were not many, and differences of opinion prevailed W r to their architectural claims to adue Mlon. They had- #' few of thost.palaces belonging XindiTiduala who were to be found in many _:.the small towns of the continent. There were, it was true, Noriclumberland and Landsdowne houses, and the beautiful club houses in Pall-mall. The noble lord cited the cost of land in London and in each of the large towns, and contended that the land would be sold to the country at a great bargain—namely, £6,000 per acre, whereas, if sold at this moment for building purposes, it would realise not less than £15,000 per acre. (Hear, hear.) The noble lord contrasted the:great cost of buy ing the land in town for the proposed extension of the British Museum, with the small price of the much larger quantity at Kensington. It was proposed to take the Patent Museum and the National Portrait Gallery to this Exhibition. The 17 acres would cost £120,000, the building £BO,OOO, and the entire altera tion . £284,000 -- making a total of , £1,841,000; but it was only proposed to ask for £17,000 in 1863 and 1864, namely, £67,000 for ;land, £BO,OOO for the building, and £25,000 for the repairs and extensions. A dome was a very handsome thing. (Laughter.) Every one admired the domes of St. Paul's and St. Peter's. The present domes would be constructed more solidly after the style - of the generally admired dome of the British Mu sewn. The Government did not propose to remove the National Gallery; that, as yet, was a moot question. The noble lord calculated that the nation would be greatly advantaged by the purchase, and concluded by placing the first resolution in the hands of Mr. Massey—namely, £67,000 for th e purchase of the land in the present and next year. Mr. GREGORY rose to oppose the bill. He objected to the removal of the collections to so great a distance, and the drawing all our institutions into one focus. He con leprned the bargain it strong language e contending that the estimates of the Government were fallacious, and.-upon the faith of counter-estimates, that the supposed cheap bargain would involve the country in enormous expense. Why did not the Commissioners, he asked, give up all the land ? Because they had involved themselves, or rather the public money, itt a private undertaking, the Horfirultu G 1 ra. lie &eked fur wore information, for plans and specifications, before the house committed itself to the proposal,. and im ploring the house not to make this purchase, he moved the rejection of the vote. th!lerx.plireEsiNunNdEereSStaYndisntated that he had given way on twat ) , of brill __ _ g th at he should have an oppor spldectr.to°hBll3B(3lltioßri—son iih.ade subject of Poland this day week. he was a miserable dupe with re• the impression that he ' a l t er) —for he bad should have Friday appeared had -been ddeLordpedto. another hon. member. • put it off under week, which it The subject then In reply to Sir H. , The CHANCELLOR of the LC replied that the commissioners held the 12 aerliesßQf 13lanEdLfree and intact at South Kensington. The lend ; t £177,500 . When the partnership between the'cormaissioners ar Government ceased, this money advanced by the Govdern ment was repaid—Ll2o,o oo in cash and £61,000 in bLd. On the motion of Lord PALMERSTON, the house th en went into committee. Lard PALMERSTON then brought forward the pro. posed estimate for the purchase of the land and building, _ lessity of providing for the wants of the country ; and he n. esi oved that these wants could be more cheaply provided heve.lY purchasing the land at Kensington than by the fc by me of his hon. friend, which was presented to them acme' the name of economy. (Cheers.) urer t J. PAKINGTON (who rose amid loud cries of r fide,'' and calls for " Osborne") said he would not "loin the committee long, but he did not wish the corn detive should come to a vote of this kind under a misappre mitoion. What he desired to know was whether, under hendrst vote for lands and buildings, the Exhibition buill theawas included. (Cries of "Divide,") ingvhe CIIANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said there 10 many points which of course had not been answered, we] • with regard to the buildings mentioned they were butlfly some refreshment-rooms which had been established chid year, and which overlooked the Horticultural. Gardens. lastjthought the best thing to do was to treat the building anon-existent-4a laugh)--and take the land at the price as z..; upon it by the commissioners, pt 4 Mr. AYRTON said the document on the table did not rate that they were to buy the land pure and simple, but skr the purpose of devoting it to science and art. (Hear, fear. ) hiThe CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied It the land was not to be purchased with the view to put tlattp for sale the day following; but for the purpose of ii upropriating it to such objects in connection with science wpr art as Parliament might think fit. aid Jord ELCHO (who rose amid loud and general cries Divide") said that the object he had in putting his "I:2 o ndment was to enable the committee to come to a ancision upon the question of the land independent of the (bending. He would impress upon the committee the im htirtance of not letting the present oppoitunity pass. po' Divide.") The question was not lightly to be dealt (lith. For many years they had been in a state of whronic congestion, and he trusted the near approach the dinner-hour would not induce hon. members to oreat this case lightly. (Cries of " Divide.") The noble tlord concluded by moving the chairman report progress. 1 , The CHAIRMAN having put the question, Viscount PALMERSTON said he hoped they would take progress before they reported progress. (A laugh.) met them make up their minds to do something. He hoped Lie committee would not agree to the motion ; there would th 3 no objection when they came to the next vote, if the b(ouse wished for further information, to postpone it ; but hq them now decide upon the first vote. (Cheers.) Mr. OSBORNE said it would require the tongue of De ' osthenes, and the ability of the noble lord, to deal with the m testion, on account of the slovenly way it was brought bo qtre them. The noble lord had himself so mixed up the f° iestion of the land and the large shed together, that it be 'Pone impossible for any gentleman to discuss the question c a pon one point without the other. He had been much struck ulith the speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for he swad given the go-by to Capt. Fowke's enormities. (Laugh ter and cheers.) The hon. member then entered into some criticisms upon portions of the estimates and the plans for c he new museums and galleries in connection with science t nd art ; and concluded by saying that the words might be applied to the present vote which had once been addressed ';o the statue of Liberty :—" 0 Art, what atrocities have een committed in thy name 1" ,b Sir H. WILLOUGHBY (whose rising called forth a 3ry tempest of derisive laughter) said he rose merely upon v point of form. (Renewed laughter.) He wished to ask if a m chairman had observed the irregular course of proceed .lg in the manne r th e p resen t es ti ma t es were l a id upon th e able. t Mr. MASSEY replied that the manner in which her Ma „isty's Government had submitted the present estimates was ) 3gular in point of form. (Cheers.) r The motion for reporting progress was then negatived, a nd the committe e di v id e d u p on th e fi rs t vo t e o f £67,000. Fur the vote Against it Majority —l32 The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER mud before 'going to a division there were one or two points in the hon. gentleman's speech to which he wished to refer. He thought it a very great error to apply the terms "falsehood and job bery" to acts of gentlemen whose private reputation stood ihigh before the public, and was of more value to them than any sum of money they were likely to get for their ser :vices. He appealed to the house to defend the characters of i • • ! gentlemen who , had no means of defending themselves from that indiscriminate censure. The hon. gentleman ; spoke of his (Mr. Gladstone's) having proposed to purchase 'the building for £700,000.' He had made no such proposal. The proposal was to purchase five acres of land for about £50,000, and the maximum for building was about £400,000 to £450,000. The truth was they were always met by the hon. gentleman and his, friends at every step with the sug gestion that they were making some scarcely honest state- , ment to the house, which was afterwards to be doubled or trebled. They must, however, go on as they had done, and present estimates they knew could be relied upon, or they must go upon a very loose system of making doubtful esti mates. As for there being £130,000 already in existence Jheers.) and available for a P a t en t O ffi ce , or rat h er a Patent Mu- ' Lord PALMERSTON then postponed the consideration seam, he knew of no such sum, and hoped the bon. gentle- .! the next vote to Thursday week. (Cries of "No, no.") man was prepared to guarantee his statement. The Govern- ° Mr. MALINS said the committee were prepared to go ment had the highest opinion of Mr. Hunt's estimates, and n with the next vote. intended to abide by them. With respect to the number of c Mr. OSBORNE protested against what had been said by visitors at South Kensington, and its general success, the le hon. and learned gentleman. Let the question be post number of visitors to the British Museum in 1862 was toned. 895,000, and to the South Kensington Museum 1,241,000. p While the house was in a state of excitement and uncer (" Go back.") In 1860 the numbers were, to the South ee inty the Chairman said the next vote was £853 to com- Kensington, 604,000, and to the British Museum 641,000; ' c afe the salaries of com m is s i oners o f e d uca ti on i n I re l an d. but at that time the South Kensington Museum was a coin- P The vote was agreed to ; but paratively new institution. His honourable friend put the case before the committee as one of economy, and Mr. O'REILLY prot es t e d aga i ns t a vo t e b e i ng pu t a t a me when the noise of the house as so great that it could said that a slight extension of the British Museum was t w of be heard. all that was wanted. But, in support of this n Mr. WALPOLE, in order to convenience the hon. mem view, his honourable friend brought forward an or for the Tower Hamlets, postponed the s t a t emen t on the irresponsible opinion against the opinion of those whose e ' s te relating to the B r iti s h Museum till Thursday week. duty it was, at the express desire of the Government, to v The sum of £3,500 f or th e L on d on U n i vers i ty was agreed to. make a responsible examination of the question. His hon. The sum of £1,559 for the Scotch Universities was agreed to. friend said they were going to adopt the monstrous scheme On the vote of £1,396 f or th e Q ueen ' s U n i vers it y , I re l an d , of Professor Owen. They were not proceeding upon the Mr. V. SCULLY declared th a t th e au th ors o f t h e sys t em monstrous scheme of Professor Owen ; nor upon his re- 0 mixed education in Ireland we re i n fl uence d b y a sp i r it o f duced estimate of five acres instead of eight as originally ;)selytism. The noble lord at the head of the Government P re med to open the Botanical G ar d ens i n Edi n b urg h on t h e proposed—but, by taking three acres for the accommoda- , s i lulay, although his perso na l op i n i ons were i n favour o f lion of the natural history collections, the Government fully believed that by the scheme now before the committee a fl u kes which were so powerful in Scotland • but he could the proposal, because he knew how to yield to the bigoted in saving of £300,000 or £400,000 would be effected. Was he •ee weaerstand his hon. friend as saying that a space of three . . . , did .. h ~ _ ar no concession to popular feeling in Ireland, nor ihe fi Pr PCI IVIAJ a., ;prat-inn.] •-‘.. ~...-....n+.,..‘,.. -,-,,, ...... ~ nn "km.. km' how to • • dation of the natural history of this country ? If his ~‘ 7 conciliate the support of the Irish members. hon. m friend did not admit this, the ground was completely 4. P. DAWSON defied the hon. and learned gentleman cut from his feet ; for when his noble friend said they were t o e Pint to a single case of proselytism which had resulted purchasing for half a million what could not be got else- treinthe establishment of the Queen's Colleges. where for a million, that proposition included the parches- Tie O'CONOR, DON said if they did not lead to prosely ing of three acres for the natural history collection. He had tism they led to indifferentism. got before him an illustration of what would be required Nor O'REILLY pointed out that the system of educa tor the purpose of natural history. He presumed that Lon- tienestablished in Ireland was founded upon a directly op don and England would require as much space for the purl. Pao principle :o that established in England. pose as Massachusetts. Well. taking that to be so, let hire M., F. POWALL thought the time had come when the state a few facts. The people of Massachusetts had built in EjYstell of educadon'in. Ireland should be tested as in Eng the neighbourhood of Boston, United States, a museum for land, 3y results. • their natu r al history collection. The building consisted off Af er some observations from M r . B LAKE and Mr. three stories, and covered two acres, which would be equal HEN gEssy, in space to a building of two stories covering three acre,. Si R. PEEL defended the v o t e , an d urge d t h at a m i xe d That:institution of Massachusetts had been only open. two edTation had been established in Ireland by Act of Parlia years, and he would quote f r om a letter of Professor Agas writ, and he could not of his own motion change it. siz, whose name was better known to fame than that men- The vote was agreed to. tioned by his hon. friend, to show that, so far from such an On the vote of £3,800 for th e Q ueen ' s C o ll ege, I re l an d, extent of accommodation being irrational or monstrous, it Mr. V. SCULLY mo v e d that the vote be reduced by was quite inadequate. In this letter Professor Agassiz, in 31,800. speaking of a building which had been only two years. After some discussion, the a men d men t was nega ti ve d opened, says—" Our building is overflowing. It will be ne- an d the vot e agree d to. cessary for us to extend our structure within the next two A vote of £5OO for expenses connected with the National years in order not to check our progress." Under these cire tallery of Ireland was agreed to. cumstances, what were they to do ? Were they to purchase five Upon th e vo t e o f £1,500 for salaries of theological pro acres near the British Museum for the purpose of obtaining i ssors in the College of Belfast, Mr, HADFIEL D moved th e re d uct i on o f t h e vo t e by additional accommodation, and expend £400,000 or £ 500 , 000 upon the scheme, and a seheme, too, that would render ne- 1 e.,050. ceseary the opening of a new street into Holborn ? And After some discussion, the committee divided. yet this was the plan which his hon. friend had not only the For the reduction of the vote .. 25 courage, but also the conviction that he was holding out to Against it the committee a purpose of economy. (Hear.) The wants Majority —7o of the public had been stated by his noble friend ; but be- The vote was then agreed t o . fore he sat down he would notice one or two points. His The CHAIRMAN said the question was, that he was hon. friend said the estimates were fallacious ; all he could l ow to report the resolutions to the house. say was that they were prepared with greater awe than Mr. CONINGHAM hoped the Chairman would not to those which had been placed on the other side. Was it an •co, but.weuld proceed to the vote on the National Gallery, exaggerated estimate to build a National Patent Museum for which he had been waiting a ll th e even i n g. for £lOO,OOO, or a National Portrait Gallery for £25,000 ? i Other hon. members having concurred in the views of They were anxious to avoid all exaggeration, and therefore ,Mr. Coningham. they only put down what they believed would be the pea ; The CHAIRMAN again put the question. bable maximum cost, and the vote proposed now was framed ,J No member of the Government having risen, a division in accordance with that vote ; and his noble friend had was taken on the motion that the Chairman report the ire shown that if they were to take the estimate of responsible' solutions. instead of irresponsible persons, there would be a saving of £300,000 or £400,000. (Cheers.) With regard to the self. For reporting the resolutions .... - - dity of the building, that was a technical point upon which Against 20 he would not detain the committee. (Ironical cheers and Majority. —B B, resumes' It would be quite impossible for him to give; The Chairman then left the chair, and the house resume an adequate explanation upon the point, and he preferred SUPPLY. Mr. MASSEY b r ought up the supply. to take the opinions of the responsible persons the Govern , On the resolution relating to education, went had consulted. (Hear, hear) But there was a do. Sir S. NORTHCOTE called attention to the mime' in current in existence, signed by two gentlemen of repute, which school managers were likely to be affected by t ie re tion, Mr. Baker and Mr. Wm. Fairbairn Speaking of the vised code, and entered into the history of the comp:ondse solidity of the building as constructed for the purposes oft which the Government made with the .house, oontrasteig last year—(hear and laughter)—not entering into the qu, eB " - "the former positi on o f authool managers with that they !ov ton of the durability of the flooring or the roof—(laughter) held. He complained that a new code of instructions had —but with respect to the walls and ' the general solidity of been sent to the various inspectors all over the country, the building, the effect of the document was that the build-1 which appeared to depart from the terms of the agreement ing had been subjected to the severest testing, and thatl made between the Government and that house. it had proved upon all points to be more than equal to Sir J. PAKINGTON complained that while it had beei any trial of solidity that it could be called on to bear. lid down by the 136th article of the code that grants would (Hear.) The question was, whether they were to give. ,e made to endowed sc h oo l s w h ere th e en dowment did not £BO,OOO for the building at South Kensington Museum,and ,e 't 30s all the Government had to do was to show that this was a AI per schola r p er a nnum, a minute was issued n y last that in no case of endowed schools could grantsbe wise and profitable arrangement for the public. But that ni'le. was not the question now before the committee. (Hear, .fter a few words from Mr. W. E. FORSTER and Bin hear.) The real question before the committee had been Pt,.„, entirely blinked by his hon. friend. His hon. friend had Ir. LOWE denied that there had been any departure not said a word about that question. His hon. friend had fro 1 the arrangement of last year. The article to which entirely blinked and evaded the practical question, whether thtright hon. baronet referred was also in the old code, and it was necessary for the Government, in the interest of the WO not exempt from revision. The agreement of last year public, to endeavour t Minister possession of the 17 acres at WO in regard of certain specified articles, and from these South Kensington. (ial cheers.) He believed the th 'e had been no departure. In conclusion, the right hon. Patent Museum at Washington covered a space of 11 acres. g el leman complained of the number of hypothetical ques (Great laughter.) Well, he got the fact that 8 acres of tioi I relative to the interpretation of the Minutes of Council ground would be necessary for a National Patent Museum whh had been put to him, and announced that he would and a National Portrait Gallery. He would take his stand sli c e. er no more of them. only upon these two cases, which had been established upon e: W. MILES was perfectly astonished at the answer of data which could not be shaken; and he would ask his hon. the ight hon. friend, as the worshipper of economy, if he was prepared to wh h it display g e e r . l pay £400,000 fo ur 8 acres of ground for these two national IN : HENLEY believed the country would hear the and important pposes, when they could get 8 acres of land slat .i eman, and the spirit of non-endurance nent of the right hon. gentleman with the deepest for £120,000 at South Kensington, with the buildings upon aai If this new code was to go for nothing, and be it. (Cheers.) That was the issue the committee had to a lts `' td when the Government pleased, the mistrust at pre decide, and he did not think, however sincere might be the se; xiding would greatly pidly increase. (Hear.) professions of economy on the part of his hon. friend, that es .-: resolution was then tid edagreto. he would persuade the committee that it was economical to 0 _the resolution of £82,826 for science and art, refuse to purchase land upon the cheap terms they were DI ra , i A. SMITH called attention to the increasing cha getting it at South Kensington. There was considera ble a CE , at, of the vote. He complained that no satisfactory ex responsibility attaching to members of that house, For long time it had been observed that every possible ev il, P i e l dr aon was given on a former night, and he moved the . 0 n on of the vote by £lO,OOO. He reftrred particularly vacillation, uncertainty, delay, expense, and many._ sum charged for the offices connected with the Ken had attended the majority of their public buildings. ( Cheers .) BM fel Museum. The committee had in this instance a statement laid before ,„... e . C. BENTINCK seconded the motion. Ito was at a them prepared by parties appointed by the Government ...',o understand why the Government declined to give LOWE explained that the increased t ° ermine into the case, and they had, on the other hand, any forination on the b* t su that . others, t t j a statement of high colour made by persons under a total hi misa ex penditurewas misapprehension of th e p ecu li ar aspects o f t h e cas e. The for Pro Position h a d been carefully considered, and also the at S lithe accommodation of the dences for diffe re nt officers .th Kensington. The officers had not got into pose ,N. TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE 16, 1863 THE SUN, LON.D(tk session, but when they were in occupation a deduction would be made from their salaries equivalent to the rent. The committee divided. The numbers were— For the amendment Against it Majority . . —l2B The resolution was then agreed to. THE VOLUNTEERS BILL. Upon the order for the third reading of this bill, Mr. COX presented several petitions from volunteer corps praying for a revision of the 21st clause, which gave the power of summary dismissal to commanding officers. Sir R. CLIFTON presented several petitions to the same effect from various corps. Mr. HENNESSY moved that the bill be recommitted, for the purpose of striking out the 20th clause, and insert ing another, making it lawful for the commanding officer to suspend a volunteer from duty for three months, or to assemble a court of inquiry, composed of himself and six members of the corps, a majority of whom might order the volunteer to be suspended or to have his name struck off the muster roll. With regard to the clause he had alluded to, he had reasons for venturing to say that the volunteer body objected to it. The hon. gentleman pro duced a very large bundle of letters he had received from volunteers in different parts of the country, and another bundle from commanding officers, all complaining of the operation of that clause of the bill. The hon. gentleman also quoted the evidence of the Inspector-General of Volun teers, to the effect that the power of summary dismissal ought not to be in the hands of an officer. If that bill were passed, he believed the effect of it would be to destroy the volunteer body altogether, and thus render an increase in the income tax necessary. The power was not only con trary to the common law of the country, but to the War Office regulations. Colonel FANE said he knew there was but one feeling throughout the county of Oxford, which was in opposition to the bill as it at present stood. Col. DUNNE said the power of dismissal existed already in the militia corps. Col. SYKES said he was of opinion that the power should be retained ; but, to guard against abuse, he would suggest that whenever a man was dismissed ho should have his name entered in a book, and the causes of his dismissal. Mr. W. E. FORSTER said the clause appeared to him to be compulsory; in the present War Office regulations it was permissive, and found to work very well. There was such a thing as a court-martial in the army and militia, but, from the constitution of the volunteer force, such a court would be entirely inadmissable. If they did not allow the bill to pass in its present shape, but adopted a clause appointing a compulsory committee of inquiry, then he should say that, in fairness, they ought to relieve com manding officers of all responsibility with regard to the discipline of their men, and make the committee respon sible. The great majority of the volunteer force were satis fied with the provisions of the bill, and they were not likely to be led away by allegations about arbitrary rule. (Cheers.) Mr. COX said he differed from the hon. member who spoke last, and begged to express his thanks to the hon. member for King's County for bringing forward this amendment. All that he and those who thought with him asked for the volunteer was the same measure of justice which was granted to every man in the army and militia. He would assure the noble lord at the head of the Govern ment, and the noble lord the Under-Secretary for War. that before long such a crowd of petitions would come in as would show that either this clause must be given up or there would be an end of the volunteer movement. The hon. member then entered into an explanation with regard to the deductions he had drawn from the evidence of Lord Ranelagh before the commission. He thought the infer ence which he had drawn was a just one, but as the noble lord bad written to state that his interpretation was not cor rect, he begged to withdraw the observations he had made. At the same time it was queer that men should give their evidence in such a way that deductions such as he had made could be drawn from it. (Oh, oh.) Mr. 0. GORE said there was not one tittle in the evi dence of Lord Ranelagh from which the hon. member could draw his deductions, and he was sorry to find an hon, mem ber sheltering himself under the shield of his privileges as a member of Parliament to make scandalous and unfounded charges against the noble lord. Sir R. CLIFTON rose to order, and moved that the words be taken down. The SPEAKER said he should have risen himself to say that after the observations made by the hon. member for Finsbury, the words used by the hon. member were not in accordance with the rules of debate ; and he was sure a little reflection would show him that. Mr. 0. GORE said he was sorry if he said anything dis respectful to the house in general. At the same time he thought when a man was not there to defend himself there should be better grounds for the allegations that were made. (Hear, hear.) The SPEAKER hoped the expression of regret on the part of the hon. member would be satisfactory to the house. Mr. CONINGHAM thought the hon. member for Brad ford had endeavoured to explain away a matter that was very arbitrary. Mr. S. FITZGERALD asked the house if they had ever heard a more scant, he would almost say so ungenerous an expression of regret—(hear, hear)—as that which had fallen from the hon. member for Finsbury—(hear, hear)—a charge similar to that made by the hon. gentleman. Mr. COX—I beg your pardon—l made no charge. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Mr. FITZGERALD—WeII, a statement of the views of Lord Ranelagh made by the hon. member. Mr. COX—I made no statement of the noble lord's views, (Laughter.) What I said was, that some commanding officers appeared to regret that they had not the power of flogging. (Hear, hear.) Mr. FITZGERALD—That was true; but the hon, member afterwards admitted that he applied the words to Lord Ranelagh, although at the time he must have been aware of the means which the noble lord had taken before a magistrate to obtain a retractation of the imputation, and gross libel. On that investigation the noble lord stated that he had never given any evidence that could justly give rise to such an imputation ; and, furthermore, that it was totally and absolutely contrary to his opinion. (Hear, hear.) Yet, after that denial, the hon. member repeated the charge. Mr. COX—I beg your pardon. (Laughter.) Mr. FITZGERALD—The noble lord then wrote to the hon. member, stating that the inference from his evidence was unjust and unfounded, and thereupon the hon. member had expressed himself as the house had heard. He repeated that no more scant or grudging apology could have fallen from any gentleman. (Hear, hear.) The Marquis of HARTINGTON could not regret the discussion on the bill for the third time, as it afforded the hon. member for Finsbury an opportunity of making some retractation of the aspersions he cast on the noble lord the other night. Mr. COX—I cast no aspersions. (Laughter.) The Marquis of HARTINGTON—AIthough he wished that the retractation had been more free and generous— (hear, hear)—than it had been. (Hear, hear.) The hon. member would lead the house to suppose that it was only since the denial he had received from Lord Ranelagh that he had been aware that what was attributed to that noble lord were not his real sentiments ; but the hon.member must have been aware that not only had Lord Ranelagh denied the imputation, but that he had obtained an apology from those who had spread the calumny. (Hear, hear.) As to theproposal of the hon member for Biter's County, it was alaost the same as that which the house had twice nega tled, and although he respected the opinion of his hon. .nd gallant friend (Col. Fane), he yet believed that volun teers as a body were in favour of the bill as it stood. (Hear, hear.) Not one of the cases brought before the house in opposition to the bill had been substantiated, and he believed that it would give general satisfaction. (Hear, hear.) It was hurried forward for the purpose of placing on the table the Order in Council which would entitle the corps to a grant this year. Mr. KNIGHTLEY supported the bill, on the ground that it did not alter the existing law. The house divided. The numbers were— For recommittal Against .. Majority against —lo7 Some amusement was created by Mr. Brand announcing at first the numbers wrong, and giving the victory to the minerity. Tie bill was then read a third time, and passed. REGIMENTAL DEBTS, &c., BILL. Thie bill was read a second time, and passed. LONDON DIOCESS BILL. This till was read a second time. PIER AND HARBOUR ORDERS CONFIRMA TION BILL. The house having gone into committee on this bill, on recommittal, Lord R. GROSVENOR moved that so much of the bill as related to Rhyl Pier, and the provisional order relating thereto, be struck out. After some discussion No amendment was agreed to, and the bill passed through committee. The Militia Pay Bill and the Charitable Uses Bill were read a second time. The Sheep and Cattle (Scotland ) Bill, and the Metropolis Turnpike Roads Acts Amendment Bill were considered, as amended, and agreed to. Ths Trout, &c., Fishing (Scotland) Bill was thrown out on a ervision by 37 to 12. The '.Unkeepess' Liability (No. 1) Bill was read a third time an( passed. The hkuse adjourned at 20 minutes past 2 o'clock. [ADvnlntssmENT.]—Holloway's Pills.—When formid able fevers ind other contagious complaints are prevalent, Holloway'apu-ifying Pills are the best correctives of the system anc tie surest cleansers of the blood. No one should pert4t any disordered action to continue when it can be so eaily rectified by these Pills ; even one day's delay may ring bitter cause to rue that slight neglect. There can aise no danger from taking Holloway's medi cine, and nolifficulty can occur in administering it to the young and clicate; clear and definite instructions enve lope each bo. To feel that the body is out of order is sufficient waknty for taking these Pills, which will pre vent or arree diseases even when doubtful, complicated, or obscure. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. TIMES.—The House of Commons agreed last night, by e majority of two to one, to the purchase of the site of the Exhibition Building. It had been previously agreed that this vote should be first dis posed of, and that a little more time should be al lowed for the more controverted part of the propo sition. The purchase of the site, however, as Mr. Gregory showed himself well aware, commits the house very far. The site can only be used for the promotion ot art and science, and, unless any gen tleman can discover new methods foe the promo tion of these objects, the site must either lie idle or be used very much as Lord Palmerston and the Chancellor of the Exchequer have proposed. They do not propose to transfer to South Kensington either the National Gallery or the learned bodies now at Burlington-house. They propose to begin by locating in the Exhibition Building the Museum of Patents, now huddled up in one small apartment at the South Kensington Museum, the National Por traits, now hat dly visible, and the Collection of Na tural History, which has long been bursting its bounds in Great Russell-street. After the evidence, the authorities, and the examples that have been adduced, it can no longer be doubted that these wants must be measured by acres, and that the acres in the heart of the metropolis are too costly to be bestowed upon objects not absolutely requiring that position. With many of our readers, we should be very glad to see all the public collections in stalled in magnificent and eternal edifices, as exten sive as the Cretan Labyrinth and as indestructible as the Pyramids, in Trafalgar-square, or Piccadilly, or the Strand. But everybody knows that we might as well wish the Heavenly Jerusalem to be planted to-morrow in Leicester-square, or the Garden of Eden in Soho. It has been triad and tried, till no body will try it again. A vote is to be asked first for the site, then for the building ; and if the Chan cellor of the Exchequer should ever find the house ready to invest in land at L'50,000 or perhaps £lOO,OOO an acre, and to cover it with magnificent edifices, the occasion will only provoke a new war of architects, librarians, sculptors, painters, naturalists, and other men of art and science, proverbially the most irritable of the human species. There is not the remotest chance of the thing being ever done in the way that we could wish, and in the way that a great nation ought to do it. We must go to a suburb, and we must house our more bulky and increasing collec tions where we can. If a man has only himself to take care of, he may take a pleasant lodging in Pall-mall or Mayfair; but if, with a limited income, he has a large family of small children, he must be content with a house in the su b ur b s . That is the question which was settled in the House of Com mons last night. The figures spoke for themselves. Two or three acres even in Bloomsbury, covered with buildings in character with the British Museum, will cost as much as 17 acres or more at Brompton. Parliament can only be reckoned on for a certain sum, at the outside, and, as space is indispensable for the purpose, we must get as much as we can for the money within a mile of Hyde-park-corner. In anticipation, however, of the deferred debate upon the purchase of the Exhibition Building, Mr. Gre gory undertook to represent a gentleman who gives us in this way the benefit of his professional advice. Mr. Mallet, who has formerly been employed by Government himself, and who either expects or does not expect to be employed again, has gone over the building, and made himself thoroughly acquainted with its defieiencies. His conclusion is that, except the four walls, there is absolutely nothing there that we should not have to replace with more sub stantial materials and more complete workmanship. When this is the case, he warns us that we do, in fact, owe' get the tour walls for our money ; and, as those four walls have to be stuccoed and orna mented, and even then will be open to criticism, the value received for our money sinks very low indeed in Mr. Mallet's estimation. The argument is that which has been stated elsewhere with an eloquence and wit unfortunately much easier on the negative side of all questions than on the affirmative. It is so much easier to prove a house uninhabitable than habitable, and to prove every human being a fool than..the contrary, that we wholly despair of success in this arena. Mr. Mallet, even when chaperoned by Mr. Gregory, reads very flat after the brilliant effusions we have perused elsewhere. While the satirist makes his utter nonsense and absurdity at least amusing, the architect is only savage, abusive, solemn, and stupid. Even were we to grant every word that he says—and we do not grant it— that would still leave wholly untouched the most important reasons for purchasing the building as it stands, and making the best of it. In the first place, besides the four walls, which are ad mitted to be something for the money, there is the general plan, to which scarcely an exception has been taken. As a mode of utilising a block of 17 acres, it is about as good a plan as could be sug gested. Government proposes to work upon that plan. It does not propose at once to raise the whole structure to that scale of solidity by which Mr. Mal let measures it and finds it wanting, but to proceed bit by bit, as space is wanted. It is not necessary to floor the whole building at once, or to warm the whole building at once, or to give the whole half mile of Picture Galleries a fireproof floor at once, or to substitute brick piers for the iron braces on which the " stand-up " now depends all over the building at once, or to complete the fittings all at once, or to substitute planed surfaces for rough all at once. If we begin with half the south Picture Gallery, and three acres for the Patents, and five for Mr. Owen's collection, we shall do enough for the present. The rest of the building may remain in its present state, which, after some very heavy storms of rain last week, is, we may say, perfectly weather-tight. The proposed destination need not touch the nave, which will thus remain available for temporary exhibi tions, for flower shows, for promenade concerts, for Volunteer reviews, for ceremonials, and for many other purposes, which it will be very easy to sneer at, but not so easy to prevent being both popular and useful. The nave may always be kept open, and retained in its present state, bearing the same relation to the adjacent courts and galleries as -West minster Hall bears to the Houses of Parliament and the Courts of Law. For this use it will not require any change or much repair for many years. Of course we could wish the situation higher, and the floor more raised above the natural surface, but the situation is, at least, many feet higher than that of the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Abbey. POsT.—The political isolation of Russia is becom ing daily more decided. The policy of the Cabinet of Berlin having completely alienated the people of Prussia from the Government of the country, her only ally is a fast breaking reed surely destined to fail beneath the hand that leans upon it. A few more ill-judged acts of friendship on the part of Prussia will place not merely that Power but Rus sia herself in direct antagonism with the rest ot Eu rope. She has therefore nothing to trust to but the diplomacy of her statesmen, and it is not likely that they will neglect the opportunity furnished by the notes about to be addressed to St. Petersburg by the Western Powers and Austria, to prolong tee situa tion over as great an interval as possible. The sen sible diminution of the ancient prestige of the em • pire, the disorganisation of the army, the wretched condition of the fleet, the exhausted state of the finances, the still incomplete social reorganisation of the country, the precarious position of the nobility, the difficulty of exciting the fanaticism of the pea sants, the absence of any European ally, and, above all, the feeble and undecided character of the Em peror himself, are so many reasons why those who control the destinies of the empire wish for time, and why to gain it they will appear in the first in stance disposed to grant concessions which may delude Europe, and for a moment suspend any manifestations of discontent which may be about to break out in fresh provinces. That they will em ploy this period in so honest endeavour to reconcile what is possible to Russia with what is satisfactory to Poland, is more than we can hope; but that, while professing to be actuated by liberal and humane sentiments, the Government at St. Peters burg may in reality profit by the occasion to employ measures of even greater severity than they have hitherto done is extremely probable. Our last accounts from St. Petersburg indicate already a ten dency in this direction. We learn upon undoubted authority that, for the third time during the last three months, a discussion has taken place in the Cabinet as to whether it will be wise to leave the Grand Duke Constantine still at Warsaw, or whether it would not be better to recall him imme diately, and at the same time enforce more rigorous measures against the insurrection. While on the one hand it is desirable that no new incentive should be given to foreign sympathy with the Poles, the suppression of the insurrection at all costs is a point of the first importance. It would seem that this question has been discussed with much warmth, and that opinions were all the more divided on ac count of the animosity and personal jealousy which exists against the Grand Duke in certain quarters, and which would seek to keep him as long as pos sible removed from St. Petersburg. The result of these discussions is reported to have been that, unless some unforeseen eventuality should arise, the present status quo was to be allowed to continue until the autumn ; that is to say, until the severe weather and the closing of the navigation should render any active intervention on the part of foreign Powers impossible, while the cold would force the numerous bands of insurgents to leave the forests and seek a shelter more appropriate to the winter season. When that time comes, if the comparatively mild measures employed now have failed to suppress the insurrection, the Imperial Government will take advantage of the six winter months to re establish its authority at all hazards and at any cost; and as the measures which will then be ena. reflect credit on a member of the Imperial ploved will be scarcely of a nature calculated to it is likely that the Grazed Duke Constentine then be recalled sad replaced by General Beig. Meaniime, we cannot, congratulate either his Ini perial Highness nor General Mouravieff on the last exercise of their authority. The hangLng of the priest Konarski at Warsaw, and of Count Leo Plater at Vilna, are acts which are certainly not justified by the exigencies of the situation. Count Plater was a leading member of one of the wealthiest end most distinguished noble families la, Poland; and although it is true that aunt E foiled concealed on his estate, it is asserted that he was ignorant of the tact, and innocent of all complicity with the insurgents. Under any circum stances, he was entitled to a trial and a more honourable death than that of a common malefactor. We should consider that an earl in this country must have taken a very leading part indeed in an insurrectionary movement to justify his being hung without trial in a public market place ; and it these are the comparatively mild measures for which the Russian Government intend to substitute others. still more stringent, we, do not wonder at the Gran d Duke having been relieved from the duty of en forcing them, though we are at a loss to conceive in what they are to consist. Meantime the summer is passing away, and while the Great Powers are changing diplomatic notes and making propositions' the numbers of widows and orphans in Poland crying aloud for help are daily increasing. Unless some Power more energetic and cou rageous than the rest steps in, the autumn will close upon a nation's agony, the time for action will be past, and the protraction of negotiations over the next few months will leave Russia with her hands free at the end of them. The result may be the momentary suppression of the movement, but it will not be the extinction of the national sentiment. Throughout every class this feeling has gathered force and vitality just in pro portion as the prestige of Russian power has de clined ; and the experiences of the past year, though bitter and disastrous, have been so far encouraging that they have shown the extent of the patriotism and the moral resources of the people, and the fire which has now blazed with such fury it will need more than a winter's frost to extinguish. If it be the object of the great powers to secure the peace of Europe, they must not be put off by vague pro mises and dilatory pleas on the part of Russia. It isprobable that the notes will be sent to St. Peters burg at once, and there can be no reason why we should not get an immediate and decided answer upon the matter of the treve, or armistice, or what ever the interlude may be termed. If the reply of Russia upon this point is unsatisfactory, it will be impossible to let the matter rest at that stage. It may be that Austrian statesmen foresee this con tingency, and are prepared with a new policy in lieu of those propositions which have cost so much discussion, but are of so little practical value. We have already indicated whatin our view that policy should be ; but if the occasion is allowed to slip by, it may be taken advantage of by others, and the peace of Europe may be endangered by the very Powers who most desire to preserve it. HERALD.—The proposal made by the Govern ment to expend £484,000 in the purchase of 17 acres of land in South Kensington, and the completion of the building used for the Great Exhibition of 1862 is one which is sure to elicit a 'mat variety of opi nions, not only from members of the House of Com mons but among persons outside who have at heart the interests of the nation and of the metropolitan city. There is no doubt, we suppose, that a very good bargain has been made when 17 acres of land in a good position, one that at a future day way be in the centre of London, are to be had at a price er about £7,000 per acre. In the Oxford-street im provements the land cost £57,000 an acre. In prolonging Coventry-street the price of 1119,000 an acre was paid. If 17 acres in South Kensington are cheap at £120,000, the International Exhibi tion building is not dear at £BO,OOO. It would cost much more to cover this space of ground with all kind of shed for any sort of purpose. To this vote of £200,000 we have no objection to make. We cannot say the same of the £284,000 which are said to be required for the completion of the Exhibition building. For what is this enormous sum wanted P The building is to be rendered substantial, the front is to be stuccoed, and the glass domes are to be changed into solid domes of brick covered with lead. Might not the money be much better ex pended in developing into a handsome structure what is now, by common consent, a very ugly building and a great disfigurement to the western part of the metropolis? Why do not the Govern ment take the advice of a committee of architects on this matter ? Captain Fowke may be very skilful in the art of constructing convenient sheds for temporary purposes ; he is not the sort of man whom Augustus would have employed in rebuilding Rome, or Napoleon in beautifying Paris. The building has many patent faults which need to be rectified. The length of the nave is broken and spoiled by the rise of six feet at each end. The domes are squat and ugly, and give heaviness to the ends of the building, leaving the centre weak. Even the contractors, whose business it was not to design but to execute, proposed to erect a large dome in the centre as a plan far preferable to having two smaller ones at the ends. Then the terminal towers at the east and west angles, in nobody knows what style of architecture, might be removed altogether with great advantage. The ends of the transepts, of flat unsightly woodwork, which completely spoil the view from the Horticultural Gardens, should surely be made into an architectural feature. Let the building stand, by all means, and let it be com pleted, but do not suffer it to remain a damning blot upon the taste of the country, an occasion of scoffing to supercilious visitors from the Continent, If the plan of restoration exhi bited at the building and in the South Ken sington Museum were carried out, we might have a structure of which the nation need not be ashamed. Lord Palmerston may despise architecture, and think it impossible for any building in London to be beautiful. For our part we think that for half a million of money we ought to have a build ' ing which should be pleasing to the eye at the same time that it satisfied our material requirements. But what is to be done with the building when we have it on our hands P It is quite a mistake to suppose that in retaining this structure we are in any way providing for the enlargement of the British Museum or the transfer of the National Gallery of Paintings. The natural history collection could never be housed under a building roofed with glass. If the great building were given to Professor Owen he would fill it with whales, and then ask for more room. The contents of the National Portrait Gallery may be conveniently housed in the picture galleries of the late Exhibition. The Patent Museum, liable tonna limited expansion, may perhaps be lodged it; the re mainder of the structure, which may be used also on occasions for exhibitions in connection with the Department of Sciences and Art and public soirees. But one thing we do insist upon, whatever is done with it. If we are to spend all this money, let us have a fair return for it. The building must not only be completed substantially, it must be ren dered worthy of the nation in an architectural point of view. It must become an ornament, and not re main a disfigurement to London. MULTIPLICATION GE' RATS.—Mr. 13nekland re lates that a celebrated rat-catcher told him a little dog his, called Tiny, and under six pounds in weight,e, killed 2,525 rats, which, at the end of three years, had they been permitted to live, would have increased to the astound ing number of 1,633,190,200 rats To-day's telegram is brought to us with lightning speed by magnetic force. The same power, and with the same success, is employed by Mr. Herring in his magnetic brushes. Dr. liassall reports " I regard them as the most perfect brushes .1 hitherto made, as respects their mechanical construction and their magnetical action." They are the remedy for grey hair, neuralgia, rheumatism, N.B. — Counterfeits are being made. Offices, 32, Basinghall-street, London. Births. BOWEN.—On the 12th inst., at Queen's-gardens, Hyde park, the wife of Charles Bowen, Esq., of a son. CHADWICK.—On the 14th inst., at New Hall, Warwick shire, the wife of John De H. Mavesyn Chadwick, of a son. HARRIS.—On the 14th inst , at Brixton, the wife of Mr. Horatio Harris, of a son. Marriages. DOWLING—FLEET,— On the 13th inst., at the Old Church, Brighton, Frank Dowling, Esq., of Addlestone, Surrey, to Isabel, youngest daughter of W. Fleet, Esq., of 2, Richmond-terrace, Brighton. GARNETT—SINGLETON.—On the 13th inst., at St. Mark's, Regent's park, Richard Garnett, Esq , of the British Museum, to Olivia Narney, only daughter of Edward Singleton, Esq., of co. Clare, Ireland. Deaths. BoROUGIL—On the 14th inst., a t 2 3, Grafton-street, the Hon. Lady Borough, widow of Sir Richard Borouh, Bart., and only survivin g issue of Gerrard, Ist Viscon g nt Lake, aged 88. BERTL — On the 14th inst., at 3A, King-street, Saint James's, Florence Berti, aged 23. CARR.—Oa the 14th inst., at Lee-grove, Blackheath, Ar thur Lascelles Beckwith, second son of Wm. Carr, Esq., F.R.C.S., aged 10, PAYNE..--At Havre, suddenly, Henry Payne, Esq., of Ford -park, Mutley.plain, Plymouth. WELLS, —On the 12th inst., at Dalston, Mr. Rchd. Wells, aged .51. WvATT.—On the 11th inst., at Ryde, Isle of Wight, Cap tain Henry B. Wyatt, R.N., aged 77. London : Printed and Published by WILLIAM ANDREWS. of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at TILE SUN Office, No. 112. Strand, fa the Precinct of the 3avoy, in the County of iithllesex.—Tuesclay, June 16 1861