The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-08 00:00:00

THE POST-OFFICE.

Lord SEYMOUR moved fur accounts of the gross
and not Post-office revenue, including the income derived
from foreign and colonial postage, and the cost of ma-

na,zement,fortho financial ycatl-1854-5 : of the charges
of management, under different heads, for the United
Kingdom, for the year 1854-5 : of the payments made
by the Post-office for the conveyance of mails by
railway within theUnitel Kingdom, ior the year 1854.5,
distinguishing, iu each instance, payments for work done
within the year, from payment, fur work done in previ-
ous years : of payments out of Post-office Revenue,
other than charge, of management : of the expense of
the Money Order-office, and amount received for com-
mission, during the year 1854-5 : and, of the amount
paid by each of the public departments under the' head
of poAage, for the year 1854-5. ,
The motion was agreed to.
THE VIENNA NEGOTIATIONS.

Mr. DISRAELI sa►d as the Vienna negotiations had
proved unsuccessful, and as it was now exactly a week
since the unsuccessful negotiator had appeared in this
house, he wished to know when the papers would be
iaid on the table of the house relative to those negotia-
tions I (Hear.)

Sir G. GREY replied he was not able to give a de-
finite answer to the question of the right bon. gentle-
man, but he could state that the noble lord the Minister
for Foreign Affairs was now preparing those papers, and
they would be laid upon the table as soon as possible.
Mr. DISRAELI—Then, Sir, I give notice that to-
morrow I shall ask what day those papers will be pro-
duced, and unless her Majesty's Government are then
prepared to give a promise to produce those papers very
speedily, I shall call upon the house to express as opi-
nion upon the subject. (Loud Opposition cheer=.)
DRESS AND ACCOUTREMENTS OF THE
ARMY.
Sir G. HEATHCOTE asked the Under Secretaryfor
War whether the improvements and amelioration an-
❑ounced last year in the dress and accoutrements of the
army, with a view to render them less cumbrous and
embarrassing, and more adapted to the requirements of
actual service, paricula!ly as to stock., ki apsackg, &c,
had been carried out, and to what extent, both at home
and abroad

Mr. F. PEEL said that the improvements which it
eras proposed to make in the dress and accoutrements
of the army had bean carried out so far as circumstances
would allow ; but, of course, some time must elapse
before they c uld be got into general practice. With
regard to the accoutrements, new ones only were issued
as they were required, but when fresh ones were issued
they were always upon the improved pattern. As re-
garded the knapsacks, the improvements which had been
made in them would relieve the soldier to the extent d
about one-third of the weight he at present carried ;
whilst they were upon an entirely new pattern. As
to the stocks, the old stiff leathern ones had
been discontinued, and a light elastic substance
had been substituted instead. As to clothing, the troops
in the colonies were clothed upon the old pattern-at
prese►;t, but steps were being taken to secure a better-
description of cloth.

ColOnel DllNili wished to 'ask the right hon. gentle-
man whether he had received any report to the effect
that the new stacks were infinitely worse than the old
ones I

Mr. PEEL replied that the reports he had received
had described them ai infinitely better. (Laughter.)

THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER.
Mr. WISE asked the Secretary to the Treasury why
the accounts of the receipts and disbursements of the
Duchy of Lancaster had not been laid on the table of the
house ; and, why ttie accounts of the Duchy of Lancaster,
presented of lat., years to Parliament, had not been
signed by the auditor in the same mariner as the accounts
of the Duchy of Corn v all ?
Mr. WILSON said the accluntS had been detayed in
consequence of some misunderstanding that bad arisen
between the auditor and the officers of his establishment.
As to his signing the accounts, it had never been the
practice hitherto for liini to do so.
WOUNDED OFFICERS FROM THE CRIMEA.
C,flonel NORTH asked the Under Secretary for War
if her Majesty's Government would take into consideia-
tion the position of those officers who had returned
from the Crimea wounded, and who were now in Lon-
don for the purpose of attenak,g the medical board, or
for military medical attendance ; and, in the absence of
an hospital for officers, hire furnished 'wives for their
accommodation, and grant them those medical comforts
which their cases required ?
Mr. PEEL said the board met alrealy twice a week„
and he did not think it was &sirable to hire additiona
houses.
Colonel NORTH

was not the answec he ex.

- .
peoted—(a laugh)—and he gave notice that on an early
day he should again bring the subject before the house..
EAST INDIA OFFICERS.

Sir E. PERRY asked the President of the Board of
Control whether, in her Majesty's commissions granting
military rank to officers in the service of the East India
Company, the words "in the East Indies only" are in
future to be omitted ; or, whether it was merely intended
under the ordei which appeared in the'Gazette of Tues-
day, the Ist day of May, to grant social rank and pre-
cedence, and not general military rank ?
Mr' V. SMITH said it was intended that the-ofEll4:s
of the Indian army should in future take social rank and
precedence, as well as general
military rank, with the
officers of the royal army.
(Hear hear.) ,

MR. LAYARD'S RESOLUTIONS.
Mr. LAYARD wished to know if the Government
could name any day on which he could bring on the re-
solutions of which he bad given notice as to the state of
the nation..

Lord PALMERSTON replieci 'ant really be could
not now name any clay. The bon member must fix a
day hitoself.

Mr. TAYARD—Then I shall take the opportunity of
bringing forward- the resolutions of whieh I have given.
notice on an early. day, on going into coinmitte of supply.
COLLECTORS OF INCOME TAX.
Mr. WICKIIAM asked the Secretary to the Treasury
what rate those officers connected with the iticome tax,
whose- remuneration consisted of ,a poundage on the
assessments or receiptS, were paid when that tax was
levied at the rate of 7d. in the pound sttrling, and what
rate per pound sterling they'are now paid when that
same tax is levied at the rate of ls. 2d. in the pound
sterling I_ L

Mr. WILSON said the same rate of remuneration as
formerly was now paid to the officers of the income tax,
and, the payments being regulated by act of Pariiament,
had not been altered. When the late increased rate of
income tax was proposed complaints from various parts
of the country were sent to the Government, complain-
ing of the indifferent payment then existing ; and, had
no augmentation of the tax taken place, it would have
been deemed expedient to increase the rate paid for col-
lection, and an increase would accordiugly be made.
THE COMIVIISSA.RIA.T OF THE SAIWINIA.N
CONTINGENT.

In reply to Lord W. GRAHAM,
Lord PALMERSTON said that the answer he had
previously given on this subject was virtually correct
Whilst he was on his legs he would take the opportu-

nity, with the permission of the house, Of replying to a
question which he believed bad been put by the hon.
gentleman opposite (&tr. Disraeli) in his absence. The
protocols relative to the Vienna negotiations would be
ready to-morrow, the only hindrance which bad taken
place having been caused by the temporary indisposition
of a gentleman in the Foreign-office. He would also
take the opportunity of stating that his right hon. friend
the Minister for War would, this day week, state in
his place in the other house the arrangements which he
intended to make with a view to the concentration of
several military departments. (Hear, hear.)