The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-13 00:00:00

'ERIAL PAELLtiI GENT

HOUSE OF LORDS—Last E verdng,
The LORD CR A NCELLOB took his seat on tAe woolsack at
five o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills were read a third time antl passed
Kington and Eardesley Railway, Southern Railway, J3ris-
tol Port and Channel Docks, Exmouth and Bueleigh, sal_
terton Water, Great Western Railway (No. 3), Great
Northern Railway (No, 2) (Lincoln to Boston).
THE BARBARITIES BY PRUSSIAN SOLDIERS.
In reply to the Earl of SHAFTESBURY,

Earl RUSSELL stated in reference to the rumour that
400 Swedish soldiers had been massacred in cold blood by
the Prussians—that there were about six or seven Swedish
officers present in the Danish army. They wore the
Danish uniform, and therefore were not to be distinguished
from the Danes. He had since received information from
the Prussian Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the
effect that there was not more than seventy Swedes alto-
gether in the Danish army. All they knew was that
five Swedish officers were taken prisoners, and that there
were 400 soldiers altogether attacked. The reports there-
fore that came with the telegram were quite untrue.
In reply to further questions from the Earl of SHAFTES.

BURY,
Rai RUSSELL said that ho knew nothing of the
particular case of reported cruelty to the brother of a British
officer.
CANNOCK CHASE AND `WOLVERHAMPTON
RAILWAY BILL.
Lord HATHERTON moved that the sessional order of
the 21st of April be dispensed with in reference to the bill,
in order that it might be read a second time.
Lord REDESDALE opposed the motion.
Their lordships divided, when there appeared—
Contents
Not contents 2O
Majority in favour of the motion
The bill was then read a second time.
NEATH AND I3RECON RAILWAY (EXTENSION)
BILL.

The Marquis of CLANRICARDE moved the suspen-
sion of the standing orders in favour of the bill.

The motion was agreed to without a division, and the bill
was read a second time.
INDEMNITY BILL,
This bill was read a second time.
STREET MUSIC (METROPOLIS) BILL.

The Earl of MALMESIsUItY moved the second reading
of this bill.

The motion was agreed to without discussion.
FACILITIES FOR DIVINE SERVICE IN COL-
LEGIATE SCHOOLS BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
CIVIL BILL COURTS (IRELAND) BILL.

The report of amendments to this bill was brought up
and agreed to.
The India Stocks Transfer Act Amendment Bill was read
a second time.

The DJfence Act Amendment Bill was read a secoud

The Judgment, &c., Law Amendment Bill was read a
second time.

The India Office Bill passed through committee.
The Life 'Annuities and Life Assurances Bill, and the
Lunacy (Scotland) Bill were read a third time and passed.
SIR FRANCIS BOND HEAD.

The Earl of HARDWICKE called the attention of the
house to the memorial of Sir F. B. Head to the Secretary
of State for the Colonies, laid on the table of the house on
the 6th Juno. He had given notice of his intention to make
a motion on the subject ; but, in consequence of what had
passed in the other house on the previous evening, he should
not bring it forward. The noble earl referred at some
length to the services of Sir F. B. Head ; but it is unneces-
sary to enter into this after the full report which we gave
yesterday of the discussion that took place on the same
subject in the House of Commons.

Lord MELVILLE said it was not Sir F. B. Head, but
his successor (Sir G. Parker) who suppressed the Canadian
rebellion in 1838.

Lord LYVEDEN thought that the subject of giving
pensions to colonial governors generally should be carefully
considered by her Majesty's Government.
The Earl of EL LENBOROUGII expressed himself
favourable to granting pensions to colonial governors.

After seine observations from the Marquis of CLAN-
R [GARDE,
The subject dropped.

Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening,

The SPEAKER took the chair at twelve o'clock.
HIGHWAYS ACT AMENDNIENT (RECOM-
MITTED) BILL.

The house went into committee on this bill

On the motion that the preamble should be postponed,
Mr THOMPSON said that the present state of highway
management was most unsatisfactory. To prove this he
mentioned that it had been found necessary to substitute
another bill in 1862 for that of 1855. They were now called
on to rescind the former. Ile thought that no practical re-
sult would raise until that act was rescinded ecmpntaory
instead of optional.
Clauses 1 to 19 inclusive were agreed to after a short dis-

cussion.

On clause 20,
Mr KENDALL movcd an amendment to the effect that
parishes should ba compelled to refonce in their neighbour-
hoods if necessary.
Sir G. GREY said that unless they were already liable
these words would not render them so.

The amendment was withdrawn, and the clause was
agreed to, as were clauses to 23.
On clause 24,

Mr. H. FEN WICK moved the omission of the words
" without a keeper," the object of which was to prevent
clttlo being turned out on the highways for pasturage.
These highways were intended for the use of the public,
and converting them into grazing ground was a direct per-
version from their legitimate purposes.

After some discussion, the committee divided—
For the amendment .... 42
Against it

Majority

It was then moved that the words" Such highways not
being more than 30 feet wide" should be added, but it was
withdrawn.

Sir B, LEIGHTON movod that the words of the clause
should not apply to any existing rights of pasturage on the
sides of roads,

Lord HENLEY said that the effect of the provision pro-
posed by the hon. baronet would be to nullify the clause
altogether, for there were no road upon which rights did
not exi.t.

The amendment was agreed to without a division. The
clause, with some other amendments, was then, adopted
without further discussion.

There was some further discussion on subsequent clauses,
and some verbal amendments were introduced.

The bill was ordered to be reported,. and at 10 minutes to
4 o'clock the sitting was suspended.
The house resumed at 6 o'clock.
THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE
SLAVE TRADE.

Mr HLRDCASTLE asked the First Lord of the Trea-
sury whether the Brazilian Government had fa lfilled
their obligations with regard to the Africans liberated by
British cruisers, as to whom Earl Russell stated in a de-
spatch of June 6, 1863, that "some thousands of negroes,
captured in slave trading vessels, and decreed many years
ago by the mixed commission at Rio to be entitled to free-
dom, are, there is good reason to believe, up to the present
time held in bondage, contrary to law and in violation of
treaty engagements."

Lord PALMERSTON—Sir, I am sorry to be obliged to
say the conduct of the Brazilian Government with regard to
the slave trade has invariably been marked Ls' the greatest
violation of treaty engagements. It led, as everybody
knows, to the passing of the Act of 1845, and afterwards to
the proceedings under that act in 1852. Their conduct as
the emanctpadoes has been as flagrant a violation
regards
of their engagements as any other part of their conduct
with regard to the slave trade. Upon this slave trade a
mixed commission was appointed in Brazil, combined of
British and Brazilian judges, and they were to decree the
liberty of negroes found in the slave trading vessels which
might have been condemned as such by the mixed court.
These delivered negroes were entitled to be free, but the
Brazilian Government said they would require preparation
for freedom, and it was provided that they should be sub-
ject to a master for 11 years. Some were kept by the Bra-
zilian Government, some by a private master; and we have
reason to believe none of them ever obtained that freedom
which they desired, This has been the subject of frequent
representations by the British Government, but these re-
presentations have not been attended to. We have asked for
a list of these negroes, and have not been able to obtain it;
but the Brazilian Government have stated that there are
measures by which the negroes
may obtain their freedom by
their own act. I will state what those meastires are, in order
that the house may see how far they ate in accordance with
the views of Government. In the first place, the negro is to
ask from the chief clerk the attestation that his 14 years
have expired. Then he is to petition the Minister of Jus-
tice. 3d. Tho Minister of Justice refers the petitioner to
the Judge of Orphans. 4th. The Judge of Orphans gives
information, and sends the petitioner to the Minister of
Justice. sth, The Minister of Justice refers the petitioner
to the chief of police. 6:h. The chief of police refers the
petitioner to the general Guardian of Negroes. 7th. The
Guardian of Negroes refers the petitioner to the chief of
po:iss, Bth. Tise chief of police refers the petitioner to the
governor of the 1-louse of Correction. (A. laugh.) 9th, The
gc tvsrnur of the house of Correction gives information, and
send the petitioner back to the chief of police. (Laughter.)
gives information, and sends back
10th. The chief of police
the petitioner to the office of the Secretary of Justice. 11th
—(laughter)—The Secretary of Justice makes a procedure
of the information, which has been passed by the Minister
of Justice hinasoU. Well, then, ltlth, the Minister of Jus-
tice causes letters of freedom to be administered to the man.
Now, you would think all is done and the man is free, Far
from that. 13th. The petitioner is referred to the judge
with his letter. 14th. He is sent to the chief of police. 15th.