The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-01 00:00:00

FLOATING BATTERIES.

Earl TALBOT wished to ask a question respecting
the floating batteries. He desired to know who was
the designer of these batteries, which he thought would
hardly answer the purpose for which they were intended,
and what was the contract price for constructing them ?
Lord PANMURE said he would answer these ques-
tions on a future day.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS--YESTERDAY.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
LORD JOHN RUSSELL.
The noble lord the member for the City of London
was led to the table amidst cheers by Sir G. Grey and
Mr. Masterman, and took the oaths and his seat on his
re-election after having accepted the office of Secretary
of State for the Colonies.
THIRD READINGS.
The following bills were read a third time and passed:
—Bristol and Exeter Railway ; Newport Corporation ;
Stourbridge Gas ; Surbiton Improvement ; East Indian
Railway ; Madras Railway.
The following bills were ordered to be- considered :
Dundee and Perth and Aberdeen Railway ; Maryport
and Carlisle Railway; Oldham Gas and Water; Regent's
Canal (Hertford Union Canal).
The Edinburgh Lands Bill was read a second time.
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ENGLAND AND
IRELAND.
Sir W. HEATHCOTE moved that the third report
of the Select Committee on Railways (19th April, 1848),
and the report of the select committee on the Chester
and Holyhead Railway Bill (11th May, 1848), be re-
ferred to the committee on the bill for Improved Com-
munication between England and Ireland.
The motion was agreed to without discussion.
PETITIONS.

Petitions were presented—by Mr. H. W. Wickham,
from the inhabitants of Hartshead-cum-Clifton, in the
county of York, against the Maynooth Endowment ;
also from the board of guardians, Bradford union, York
county, praying that provision may be made by Govern-
ment for the support of the wives and families of mili-
tiamen when on duty with their regiments ;
also from the licensed victuallers in the borough and
parish of Bradford, Yorkshire, to the number of 206,
praying for the repeal of the act passed last session in-
titnled an Act for further regulating the Sale of Beer
Dad other Liquors on the Lord's-day ;by Mr. Pellatt,
from Southwark, for improvements in the Management
et the Metropolis Bill, and from a place in Sent, for the
abolition •of church rates ; by Mr. Spooner, from St.
against ti.a_nd St. Thomas's parishes, Birmingham,
various ..i. Maynooth grant, and petitions from
grant InaPana, of the kingdom praying that tbe
the maul, be withdrawn • b Mr Hadfield, from
bodies in rift.. Law Association and other similar
from s-- -areerileelith. e Testamentary Jurisdiction Bill
churchn.j. ; ily 3tort.Brighton, for the abolition of
from thrateB israeli a number of petitions
- e notth of I •
by Mr. Cowan, nitetadir:graaivnasrtitoheMaynooth grant ;
various places in Scotland
in favour of ther
against the May oath A-grdavnQtea, te'S Education Bill, and
BANK OFwEitirwG,,,,,fLeAreNtieDe
THE
.to the letter
Mr. HILDYARD asked,
from the Governor and DeputT
ikequer, dated the
of England to the•Chancellur of the of the n
14th day of March, 1855, lately laid o
letter
house, the Chancellor of the Exchequel: the
table of th C.,
any objection to lay on the table of the house he had
from the Governor and Deputy-Governor of .tehtehe
the 12th Oct., 1354, therein refemred to, and ank of
also the
opinions of the standing counsel of the Bank, and of Bar.
Roundel' Palmer,also therein referred to ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said no
COPY of any such letter bad come into his possession,
and it was
RE impossible for him to produce it.
PORTED RAISING OF THE SIEGE..OF

.
SEBASTOPOL.
In reply to I\lr. WARNER,
l ete fro
Sir C' WOOD said the telegraphic line was now com-
p m the Turkish
coast, but they were not aware
Whether it was complete across the Danube, With rer

gard to the reported raising of the siege of 'Sebastopol, a
despatch had been received that day from Lord Raglan,
and he made no mention of any such intention. (Cheers.)
In reply to Ilr. GROGAN,
Sir C. WOOD said he had no objection to state the
whole contents of that despatch. It was simply that
Lord Raglan wished to know when the Sardinian con-
tingent was to sail. (Cheers and laughter.)