The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-22 00:00:00

UNION ASSESSMENT ACT.

Mr. Alderman SALOMONS asked the President of the
Poor Law Board if he intended to propose any amendment
of the Union Assessment Act during the present session,
and particularly if he intended so to alter that act as to
make it compulsory on parties to appeal to the Assessment
Committee before appealing to the justices in quarter ses-
sions.

Mr. VILLIERS said it was his intention to introduce a
provision in the Act he proposed to bring before the house,
and make an amendment in reference to this subject.
GARIBALDI.
Mr. KINNAIRD said that a rumour had been prevalent
in the metropolis, and had appeared in the public news-
papers, to the effect that a Minister of the Crown had been
instrumental in inducing the abrupt departure of General
Garibaldi from this country. (Hear, hear.) Ho wished to
know if there was any truth in the rumour.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thanked
his hon. friend for having afforded him an opportunity of
making a personal explanation in reference to those absurd
rumours alluded to. On Saturday last it was communi-
cated to him that the friends of General Garibaldi enter-
tained fears for his health, and Dr. Ferguson, one of the
most eminent medical men—

Mr. SCULLY rose to order, as the matter now intro-
duced was irrelevant to the question.
The SPEAKER decided that the Chancellor of the Ex-
checper was quite in order.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER repeated
that the General's friends were beginning to entertain fears
relative to his health, and he was requested by the Duke of
Sutherland to go to Stafford House that evening at 9 o'clock
in order to consider, with other of the General's friends,
what they should advise him to do under the circumstances.
He went to Stafford House accordingly, and as it appeared
that the General had promised to visit no less than thirty
towns in the kingdom, it was apprehended that he
would not be able to do so with safety. The Earl of Shaftes-
bury and other friends of the General present came to the
conclusion that they ought to advise him to contract his
circle of places to be visited. The conclusion
was communicated to the General by him, and
it was represented to him that if he carried out his intention
he would be endangering his health, in the preservation of
which the people of this country felt so great an in-
terest. (Hear, hear.) That was the whole substance
3f his communication, and the upshot of it was that he
should contract his visits and state before leaving London
the places to which he intended to go before his de-
parture. The General listened to him and said
hat there was great force in what he stated,
but then it would be difficult to make the selection
suggested, and that he considered the object of his visit to
England had been accomplished when he came to the me-
tropolis, that object being to thank the people of this country
for what they had done with regard to his health, and that he
thought when he visited the metropolis he visited the whole
country, whose feelings it represented. He added that all
the promises he had given as to hie visits were conditional.
li and hoped one future occasion to be able to visit this country
without pomp or ceremony.
Mr. SCULLY wished to know whether the metropolis
represented the feeling of Ireland 2 (Laughter.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
had made no suggestion to the General as to any tour in
Ireland and England, and left the selection entirely to the
111
General himself.
THE LISBTJRN ELECTION COMMITTEE.
Mr. BUTT, in presenting petitions on the subject of the
proceedings in respect to the committee, drew attention to
the hardship inflicted on Mr. Richardson, who for 11 days
sustained the expense of contesting the return of the
sitting member without any benefit owing to the illness of
one of the members. He contended that there should be
an alteration in the case of their election committees,
and concluded by moving the following :—" That
the Select Committee on the Lisburn Election Petitions do
re-assemble and report upon the matter referred to them by
the house." _ _

After some remarks by Mr. HUNT and the ATTORNEY
GENERAL, the motion was negatived without a division.

THE FIRE INSURANCE DUTY.

On going into Committee of Ways and Means,
Mr. H. SHERIDAN moved as an amendment, that in
the opinion of the house the reduction of the fire insurance
duty in the manner proposed by the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer was not the mode of reduction contemplated by the
resolution of the house passed last session on the subject,
and that a uniform reduction of ls. per cent. on all descrip-
tions of property liable to the said duty would be more ac-
ceptable to the country.
Mr. HADFIELD seconded the motion, which was
opposed by
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, who
argued that if adopted it would be totally useless in respect
of any efficacious reduction of the fire insurance duty. It
would destroy the principle which the house had approved
in apportioning the balance of revenue and expenditure, and
would sweep away every rag of the surplus. With regard
to his own proposal, he observed that there would be no diffi-
culty whatever in rating stock in trade.
Mr. DISRAELI thought the principle of the amendment,
as distinguished from that of the Government proposition,
was the right one; but although he should vote for the
amendment, in the event of its becoming a substantive mo-
tion he should move the omission of the words "one shil-
ling per cent." Thus the house would only be pledging
itself to the principle of a uniform reduction of duty.
After a few remarks from Mr. T. Baring, Sir H. Wil-
loughby, and Sir S. Northcote, the house divided, and the
motion for going into committee was carried by 170 to U 7.
The amendment was therefore lost, and the house went into
committee of ways and means.
Toe CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER submitted
a resolution reducing the fire insurance duty on stock in
trade to is. 6d. per cent. per annum.
Sir 1:1. WILLOUGaBY, by way of amendment, moved
that for stock in trade, houses and buildings should be sub-
stituted; but the amendment was negatived without a divi-
sion, and the motion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer
agreed to neat con.
The house having resumed, on the order for supply,
Colonel DICKSON moved for a select committee to in-
quire into the claims of Mr. John Clare, jun., upon the Go-
vernment for compensation for inventions and designs
supplied to the Admiralty in connection with iron ship-
building and the construction of gun boats.
The motion was opposed by Lord C. PAGET and the
SOLICITOR-GENERAL, who contended that as the matter
had already been investigated and decided in the courts of
law, Mr. Ciao had no claim for compensation upon the
house.
Ultimately, and after some discussion of no interest, the
motion was negatived.
Sir J. PAKINOTON put questions relative to the pre-
sent state of the Channel fleet, and the reserves in the home
ports. which elicited from Lord C. Paget a statement to the
effect that the first-class steam reserve consisted of 13 ships,
viz,, three iron• armoured ships, two line-of-battle ships,
two frigates, three corvettes, and three sloops, and they
were all fit for service. The Channel fleet being comprised
of iron ships necessarily required a good deal of docking.
The High Court at Bombay Bill was read a third time
and passed.
The Court of Justiciary (Scotland) Bill, the Fish Teinds
(Scotland) Bill, and the Summary Procedure (Scotland)
Bill were severally passed through committee.
The Charitable Assurances Enrolments Bill was read a
second time.
The Bridges (Ireland) Bill was defeated in committee by
128 to 85.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER nominated

the select committee on the Government Annuities Bill,
Sir M. FARQUHAR moved that the committee have
power to send for and examine persons, papers, and records.
The motion was opposed by the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, Lord Palmerston, and Mr. Vivian; and was
supported by. Lord J. Manners, Mr. Haukey, and Mr.
Ayrton.
Upon a division it was negatived by 127 to 104, and the
committee nominated.
The other business on the paper was also gone through,
and the house adjourned at 10 minues to 1 o'clock,