The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-10 00:00:00

LORD LUCAN.

On the motion that the house at its rising should adjourn
until Monday next,
Lord ELCHO asked the hon. member for Bristol
whether he intended to proceed with his motion for a com-
mittee to inquire into the conduct of Lord Lucan and the
disastrous charge at Balaklava. He asked this question be-
cause since notice had been given of the motion Lord Lucan
had demanded a Court-inartial, and he thought the hon.
member would see the expediency of postponing the mo-
tion pending this inquiry, should it take place.
Mr. 11. BERKLEY consented to postpone his motion
for the present, but he should still feel himself at liberty to
bring it on should he deem it necessary to do so.
The motion for adjournment was then agreed to.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.

On the motion for going into committee of supply,
Mr. DISRAELI said it would be for the convenience of
both sides if the Government would settle at what hour
public business should commence every day. Hitherto it
had been half-past form, but of late the time had varied
from half-past four to five.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said his
noble friend at the head of the Government would answer
the question on some future occasion.
Lord PALMERSTON, who came in subsequently to the
above question, stated that it would be for the convenience
of the Government if it was understood that in future
public business should commence at half-past four o'clock.
NEWSPAPER STAMP BILL.

Sir H. WILLOUGHBY wished to know if it was the
intention of the Government to proceed with this bill; and
if so, when ?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was.
Mr. RICARDO pressed the right hon. gentleman to fix
a day for the second reading.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER. stated that
he should be prepared to more the second reading on Mon-
day, the 10th inst.
EXCHEQUER BALANCES.

Mr. 31`GREGOR moved as an amendment to the ques-
tion " that the Speaker do leave the chair," that the fol-
lowing returns be ordered, namely :—Returns of the ba-
lances at the credit of the Exchequer on the 24th day of
February, 1854, and on the 24th day of February, 1855 :
Of the amount of the Treasury Deficiency Bills at
the Bank of England on the 24th day of February,
1851, and on the 24th day of February, 1855:
Of the number and amount of Exchequer bills outstanding
on the 21th day of February, 1854, and on the 24th day of
February, 1855, stating the interest per cent. per day,
and when payable : Of the number and amount of Trea-
sury bonds outstanding on the 24th day of February, 1854,
and on the 24th day of February, 1855, stating the dates
when signed, when payable, and the rate of interest :
Of the amount of the capital of the Bank of England on
the 24th day of February, 1854, and on the 24th day of
February, 1855, stating the details of the said capital as to
how invested, and if in Government Securities, showing
the value per cent. of such securities on the above dates, and
also the value per cent. of other than Government Securi-
ties held as capital by the Bank of England on the same dates.
Of the amount of the sum called the Rest in the Bank of
England on the 24th day of February, 1851, and on the
24th day of February, 1855, stating the particulars iu de-
tail of the amount of the said Rest, whether consisting of
bank capital, profits, Government and other securities,
specie, and Bank notes. Of the amount of other than
Government securities held by the Bank of England on the
24th day of February, 1854, and on the 24th day of February,
1855, stating the particulars of such securities, whether on
real estate, mines, foundries, bonds, bills of exchange, or
moneys, and how convertible and payable : of the amount
of notes of the Bank of England on the 24th day of Feb-
ruary, 1854, and on the 24th day of February, 1855,
stating the amount in circulation, and the amount
held on those days by the Bank ; distinguishing
separately the amount issued on acccount of
the Bank capital, and on account of the bullion in
the Bank : And, of the amount of moneys due as deposits
in the savings' banks of England, Wales, Scotland, and
Ireland, separately, on the 24th day of February, 1854,
and on the 21th day of February, 1355, stating in what
securities the said deposits are invested, whether in the
Funds, Treasury Bonds, or other and what securities.
Mr. WILSON said the returns could not be granted.
The amendment was withdrawn.
BREECa-LOADING ARMS.

Mr. MkGUIRE brought under the notice of the house
certain improvements in the manufacture of breech-load-
ing fire-arms, and urged the importance of adopting
such improvements in the British service. He parti-
cularly referred to Sharp's breech-loading rifle. The
inventor of that arm was a few years ago a humble me-
chanic in America, but he introduced his invention to the
American Government, and having been thoroughly tested
and found to be the best weapon of the description in ex-
istence, it was now universally adopted in the American
army. It was brought under the notice of the authorities
at Woolwich, in, May last, but although trials and experi-
ments had since been made to test the value of the rifle, no
intimation whatever of the result had been communicated
to those who were the most interested in it. To-day the
weapon had been tested at Lord Ranelagh's at Fulham,
and he would toll the house the result of the experiment.
The great advantage of the weapon was, that it could be
loaded at the breech with only three movements, whereas
the ordinary rifle required five. The minie rifle could
enly be discharged two or three times in a minute, but to-
day he had seen Sharp's breeett-loading rifle fired off
21 times in a minute and a half, 14 times in a minute,
and 40 times in five minutes and five seconds. It had
been approved of by some of the highest military autho-
rities in this country, and under these circumstances, he
did most earnestly trust that bharp's breech-loading
rifle would have a fair trial at the bands of the
Board of Ordnance. He also urged upon the
attention of the Government Adams' improved pistol,
which was worth two of Colt's.

Colonel B. KNOX had been a witness of the experi-
ment to-day, and so satisfied was he of its simplicity and
importance, that h• had ne hesitation in urging the Go-
vernment to give it a trial. It was the best adapted
weapon for cavalry in existence.
Mr. MONSELL admitted the importance of introducing
into the army with the least possible delay a breech-
loading rifle, and why it had knot already been in-
troduced was simply owing to the anxiety of the Go-
vernment to obtain the best weapon. (Hear, hear.) Last
year an intimation was conveyed to the principal gun
manufacturers of the country that the Government were
disposed to introduce into the army a breech-loading car-
bine, and they were requested to send in their inventions
for the purpose of being tested at Woolwich. (Hear,
hear.) Accordingly a large number SrBto Mout in, in-
cluding Sharp's carbine, and these had been fully
tested by a committee of military officers. That committee
had not yet decided which was the best, but the moment
it was decided on no time would be lost in having a large
number manufactured for immediate introduction into the
army. He believed at present the choice lay between
Sharp's earbine and another of an equally valuable and i
portant character invented by a Monsieur Lentoi.
Mr. DIINDAS attributed the delay to the system of
governing by boards ; if the matter had been left to the
decision of one man the best weapon would long ago have
been found out.

Col. DUNNE wished to know if any report had been
received upon the carbine of Mr. Sharp. There *as no
doubt that a breech loading carbine was the best
that could be adopted in cavalry regiments, but they
were generally attended with the inconvenience of
generating too much gas, which could not escape in suffi-
cient time to admitof its being hurriedly loaded.
Mr. MONSELL said Mr. ShArp's. carbine had been
favourably reported amongst others, and in a very short
time the best of these would be selected. (Hear, hear.)
The subject then dropped.
RIFLE CORPS.
_ _ _

Mr. WILLIAMS again urged upon the Government the
expediency of sanctioning the establishment of volunteer
rifle corps. He believed offers to form such corps had been
already made to th^ Home-Officr., and brs thought they
ought not only to be aeci.ptud, but encouiaged.
Lord PALMERSTON said he received repeated offers of
the kind while he was at the Home-oMee ; but, con:litter-