The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-21 00:00:00

ASSIZES AND SESSIONS BILL.

In reply to Mr. DEEDES,
Sir G. GREY said he thought it would not be d 3sir-
able to proceed with the above bill this session, and. he
moved, therefore, that the order for proceeding with the
bill should be discharged, and that it should be re•in tro-
duced next session.

SCOTCH EDUCATION BILL.
In reply to Mr. E. LOCKHART,

The LORD ADVOCATE said it was not his intenidon
to bring in any other bill this session on the subject of
Education in Scotland, the bill which he had introduced
baying been thrown out by the Lords yesterday even-
ing.

THE HAMPTON COURT PALACE PICTUR:ES.
Mr. G. LANGTON asked the Chief Commissioner.: of
Public Works whether he was aware that one of the
pictures at Hampton Court Palace had been recently
missed from that collection, and that several others had
been very seriously damaged ; and, if so, what steps had
been taken to recover the missing picture and to pro-
tect.the gallery from further injury ?
Sir W. MOLESWORTH said his attention had been
called to the fact of mischief having been done to the
pictures at Hampton Court, and that he had dir3c ted
rewards to be offered for the detection of offenders in
uture. (Hear, hear.)
THE " ANDERSON" CLAIMS.
Mr. MAGUIRE asked the First Lord of the Tres-
vary whether the claims of the late Mr. John An tler -
son of Fermoy, whose services to the State had L een
the subject of frequent recognition by members of t c •
cessive Administrations, as well as by the general public,
had been brought before him by his son and representa-
tive Sir James Anderson, and whether these claims band
been taken into consideratioi? ?
Lord PALMERSTON said he had within the last :ow
days received an application from. Sir J. Anderson on
the subject. The claims in question had been under f
donsideration of previous Administrations, but, as he
was unacquainted with their nature, he could not th en
say what it would be deemed desirable to do with respect
to them.
Mr. MAGUIRE gave notice that he should brivig
forward those claims early next session.

DECIMAL COINAGE.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
Government had determined to appoint a commission to
inquire into the subject, and had determined that thie
tribunal should be a competent one. The committoet
would consist of three persons ; one would be the Comp-
troller of the Exchequer, the other Mr. Hubbard, bu t
there was some difficulty at present about the third, r►s
the gentleman whom the Government had thought it
desirable to appoint had some difficulty in acting imme-
diately.
Lord HAAS inquired whether it wee the intention of

the Government to refer weights and measures to the
commission ?
The CHANCELLOR, Of the EXCHEQUER refined
that it wa, not.
BILLETTING OF THE: mium.

Mr NVELLS asked the Under Secret .ry tor NV ar
7-hether, in consequenc • of the permanent embody In, of
the militia, it was the intention of her. Majesty's Go-
vernment to make any alteration in the present system
of billetting ?
Mr. F. PEEL said it was not the intention of the
Government to introduce any measure into the house ;
but he might state that the embodiment of the militia
had led to the formation of encampments, which had
obviously practically remedied the question raised to a
great extent. (Hear, hear.)
INVALID OFFICERS—COMMISSIONS.

Captain J. PERCY begged to ask the Secretary for
War whether an officer in bad health was required,
before he got leave to sell his commission, to go before
a Medical Board, which Board must certify, before he is
allowed to sell, to the following effect :—" That he does
not labour under an impaired constitution, threatening
earlier decease than a person of his age might expect in
the ordinary course of nature."
Mr. F. PEEL said the mode in which application
was made by an officer for leave to sell his commission
greatly depended on the particular circumstances of
each case, and it was therefore impossible to answer a
general question like the one just pat to him. He was
not, however, aware that a formula of this kind was
required. Generally speaking an officer was not allowed
to dispose of his commission when his health was not
such as to give rise to a fear that his life could not be
prolonged.
IMPROVEMENT IN THE PUBLIC PARKS.

Mr. E WART wished to inquire of the Chief Commis-
sioner of Public Works whether it would not be possi-
ble (if not now, at some future time), to throw open to
the public, as a portion of the park, the ground now
inclosed for private use, and inclosing a considerable
space of ground in the centre of Hyde-park, between the
Guard-house and the Humane Society's Receiving-house
near the Serpentine ; also, whether the Government
were willing to submit to the gracious consideration
of her Majesty the expediency of opening to the public
the large park behind Hampton Court Palace, known as
the Home Park, and now devoted exclusively to the
use of the residents in the palace ; also, whether the
Fountain of Diana in Bushy Park, founded by William
the Third, was in process of restoration, as promised by
the Government ; and whether, as agreed last year, a
large additional number of seats were to be placed round
all the larger trees in Kensington-gardens and Hyde-
park for the convenience of the public ?
Sir W. MOLESWORTH, in reply tothefirst question,
said that a portion of the park now enclosed was used as
a wood garden, and could not be dispensed with ; the
remainder being in the occupation of the Deputy-ranger.
This could not be taken from that functionary at pre-
sent ; but when he ceased to hold office be (Sir W.
Moleswortb) apprehended there would be no difficulty
in transferring that portion to the public use. (H•ar,
hear.) As to the second portion, it was not correct
that the Home-park was exclusively used by the resi-
dents in Hampton Court Palace ; the fact I.eing that the re-
spectable residents in the neighbourhood were permitted to
use it. There was, however, no intention on the part of the
Government to recommend its being further thrown
open. With respect to the Diana fountain it was in
process of restoration, and he was informed would soon
be completed. Lastly, a considerable sum of money had
been expended in the purchase of seats for Kensington-
gardens ; and a number of seats, capable of accommo-
dating 400 persons, had lately been erected.
NATIONAL GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS.
Mr. EWART asked the First Lord of the Treasury
whether the Government was willing to cause to be
affixed to the works of art (paintings, statues, monu-
ments), and specimens in our different national collec-
tions—the National Gallery, Hampton Court Palace,
the British Museum, and similar public institutions—
short descriptive tablets or inscriptions, giving the sub-
ject of the work, the name and date of the artist, the
school to v'hich he belongs, and such other brief histori-
cal or scientific information as may be instructive to the
public ?
Lord PALMERSTON said he was much obliged to
his hon. friend for the suggestion, which was one well
worthy of consideration, and as it might be complied
with at no very great public expense would no doubt be
carried out. (Hear, hear )

THE D'ANUBIAN PRINCIPALITIES.

In reply to Mr. LAYARD,

Lord.PALMERSTON said it was obviously very in-
convenient that the Government should he asked to
state what precise conditions they should require in
future negotiations. The detailed arrangements in re-
gard to the first and second points were settled condi-
tionally ; the condition being that the whole 'treaty
should be satisfactorily arranged. That not being
the case, the Government held themselves free
to re-discuss any of the matters that were
provisionally ,agreed to with respect to the Principali-
ties.
What he understood as the fundamental principle
of the first point was that Russia should not exercise
that exclusive protection of the Principalities which she
bad hitherto done. With regari to the commission to
which the honourable member had referred, there
was no commission sitting at Vienna for the purpose
of discussing a Government for the Principalities. There
was, however, a commission of a different kind sitting,
consisting of English, Austrian, and Turkish represen-
tatives, who were empowered to receive representations
coming from the inhabitants of the Principalities as to
any grievances or complaints in respect to the occupying
troops. He understood his noble friend (Lord Claren-
don) had received representations from some gent;emen
who were not residents in the Principalities, and con-
sequently could not be held as authorities. (Hear.)

VICE-ADMIRAL SIR CHARLES NAPIER AND
THE ORDER OF THE BATH.

Mr. LAYARD wished to ask the noble lord at the
head of the Government why Sir Charles Napier had
been excluded from the honour of the Order of the
Bath which had been conferred upon so many others ?
Lord PALMERSTON replied that the exclusion, as
the boo, gentleman termed it, had caused great regret to
the Government, but that exclusion was self-imposed by
the gallant officer. Sir C. Napier was informed that
his name had been represented to her Majesty for the
honour of the Grand Cross of the Bath ; but for reasons
of which the gallant officer must himself be the best
judge he had declined to receive the honour.