The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-23 00:00:00

THE MILITIA.

Since the assizes about 60 men of the Royal Dorset
Militia have volunteered into several regiments of the
line.

The 3d West York Militia, Lieutenant-Colonel Pro-
theroe have volunteered for colonial garrison duty.
The 2d Cheshire Militia, Lieutenant-Colonel Daven-
port, are out daily training iniWoodbank-park ; the ma,
jority of the men are anxious for foreign service.
The Westmeath Militia have volunteered for foreign
service.

Loss of THE SHIP GAZELLE, 011SCILLT.—Advices
from Bahamas, Nassau, to the 12th Feb., mention that
the Gazelle, of Scilly, while on her voyage from St. Jago
de Cuba to St. John's, Newfoundland, was totally lost at
Inagua, Jan. 30, master drowned, cargo (sugar, coffee,
and elgarl3) Wet ; a small portion of the materials saved.

EMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS-(YESTERDAY.)

The LORD CIIANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock:.
THE PATRIOTIC FUND.
The Earl of ALBEMARLE begged leave to ask the
President of the Council whether her Majesty's Govern-
ment had received any despatch from the Governor-
General of Canada relative to the contribution of a certain
tribe of Indians towards the Patriotic Fund Out of the
evils that have attended this dreadful war this good has
been obtained—that it has created a general sympathy
throughout the country amongst all classes of
her Majesty's subjects in favour of the wives
and families of our brave soldiers and sailors fighting
the battles in the Crimea. (Hear, hear.) The
enormous suns of 1,000,0001. has already been made up.
Amongst the contributors towards the fund were the
adult criminals of the London Reformatory Institution,
who, nct having any money of their own, applied for
permission to abstain from the meat that was allowed
them in the course of one day, in order that the value
might be added to the fund. (Hear, hear.)
He understood that the sum of 1001. was made up by
the Red Indians from their wigwams, at a meeting
which took place on the 4th of this month. He wished
t) ask whether any notice of the fact had been sent home
to the Government here by the Governor-General of
Canada ?

Earl GRAN VILLE said that he had not received any
information of the fact, but he would make inquiry into
the subject.
THE LAW OF PARTNERSHIP.
The Earl of DERBY asked the Government whether
it was their intention during the present sessionto in-
troduce a measure for the:amendmentof the law of part-
nership ; and if so, at what time it
i was pro-
bable that such a measure would be introduced ?
His reasons for asking the question were these :—lt was
known that there was at the present moment a prospect
of a considerable deficiency in the supply of materials
for the manufacture of paper, and two preposi-
tions had been brought forward for the purpose of
meeting the deficiency. A. Mr. Sharp had writ-
ten upon the subject, communicating some very
important facts. From the statements of that
gentleman it appeared that the fibrous plants in the
West India Islands could be most extensively used,
and on one estate alone in Demerara, 160,000 plantains
k:ould Lo cui down, which would yield 200,000 tons of
material out of which paper could be manufactured, but
which now was allowed to waste. (The noble earl hers
produced several specimens of paper manufactured from
this material, which he handed to the Marquis of
Lansdowne, who appeared to examine them with
great interest.) Now, the existing law relating to
partnership, and the granting of charters was calculated
to prevent the investment of capital in such speculations
as those to which he had referred, and he wished to
know the intentions of her Majesty's Government on
the subject.
Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY said that a bill
was in preparation to amend the law relating to part-
nerskip, and he hoped it would remove the evil com-
plained of. It would not be brought forward prior to
the Easter Recess.

After the presentation of a few petitions for the vigour-
ous prosecution of the war,
Earl GRANVILLE said that it was the intention of
the Government to move the adjournment of the house
for the Easter Recess from Friday week until the fol-
lowing Monday fortnight.
Their lordships then adjourned.