The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-18 00:00:00

PETITIONS,

Some petitions were presented in favour of the allowance
of pensions to retiring medical officers attached to unions.
and for the repeal of the duty on fire and life insurance.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL CRAWLEY.
Lord HOTHAM gave notice that on Friday next he
would move for the production of certain memoranda issued
by Field-Marshal the Commander-in. Chief respecting the
conduct of Surgeon Turnbull, and in reference to the recent
court. martial at Aldershot.
CHAINS, CABLES, AND ANCHORS BILL.
Mr. LAIRD, in moving the second reading of this bill,
said that the object of the bill was to enable ptivate manu-
facturers to erect testing machines, and so render them re-
sponsible for the manufacture of their own articles. The
London Society of Shipowners were in favour of the bill,
which would be of great benefit to small manufacturers.
He combated some other objections to the bill, and said it
would not come into operation until June 1865.
Sir J. ELPHINSTONE seconded the motion, and ex-
pressed-a hope that the bill would be allowed to go into com-
mittee when any improvement in detail could be introduced.
The expense that would result from the alteration in the law
would be insignificant when compared with the importance
of the subject to which it related. He quoted different
statistics to show that there was a great increase in the num-
ber in 1862 of the wrecks, which amounted to a loss of no
less than 395,043 tons, involving the loss of several hun-
dred lives, and jeopardising the lives of no less than 14,073
lives.' Ninety-three of these disasters were occasioned by
the imperfectness of the chains and cables used.
Mr. HUTT said he would not oppose the bill, but con-
sidered that its provisions would not be adequate to prevent
fraud.
Alderman ROSE supported the bill, and remarked that
about 80 per cent. of the chains and cables manufactured
were below the proof required.
Mr. LINDSAY considered that the bill was unnecessary,
as the object it proposed was being carried out in Stafford-
shire, and other parts of the country where chains and
cables were extensively manufactured. [he fact was,
that shipowners, for their own sake, would before long
use cables and anchors teat were not properly tested.
If it were known that shipowners used chains and cables of
an inferior description it would injure their own interests.
He admitted the benevolence of the object, and if the bill
would effect only one tenth of that object it should have his
hearty support ; but he denied that it would be attended
with such a result. He deprecated the interference of Par-
liament on this subject, which, he contended, would have

the effect of relieiing manufacturers from a personal
responsibility, which at present was imposed on them,
to produce articles of a good quality. Another
evil would be that all the small manutacturers would be
ruined and the trade thrown entirely into the hands of the
great manufacturers of Staffordshire and Wales, which
would be a great injury to the interests of the shipowners
as well as the public generally. Moreover, by the bill no
chains and cables that were not tested were to be issued
after Juno, 1865, and those manufacturers whose stock
would of course be seriously depreciated, would come to the
house, and justly, for compensation. He would not offer
any factious cpposition to the bill being read a second time,
but he repeated that it would defeat the object in view, as
it was founded on false principles.
Mr. CAVE said he had no doubt there was necessity for

legislation on this subject. With reference to leaving, as
bad been suggested, this subject to a committee of Lloyd's,
it must be remembered that Lloyd's was a very private
company, whose determination one day might be cancelled
the next ; and he contended that it would be more advisable
to place on the statute book as enactment on a subject of
such importance. He agreed in the principle of the bill, but
considered that it requiredialteration in detail, and that in any
committee, who should have to decide this question, the
Board of Trade and other public bodies should be repre-
sentei.

Mr. BEN TINCK supported the bill, and he believed
that unless they were compelled to do so, shipowners in
many cases would purchase not the best articles but the
cheapest. They had on record that a large number .of
casualties had resulted from the use of bad chains and cables,
and although in some cases no human provision could pre-
vent disasters, still it was desirable that there should
be legislation in order to prevent a recurrence of
such disasters as might be averted. He thought
that there would be no difficulty in securing efficient articles
by the means of such being properly certificated. He con-
sidered there should be not only immediate but stringent
legislation on the subject. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. HORSFALL supported the bill, and said that if the
Board of Trade were sincere in their desire to carry out a
measure of this nature they would not flnd any insuperable
difficulties in details.
Mr. LEFEVRE considered that this subject did not
properly come within the bounds of legislation.
Mr. HASSARD bore testimony, from his own expe-
rience, that shipowners did not always use the most effi-
cient chains and cables, and in many instances, in connec-
tion with the coasting trade, sailors deserted their vessels
in consequence of a duo care not being taken of their lives,
in whose cases magistrates refused to convict. No doubt
there were objections to some portions of the bill, but they
could be remedied by the care of the house in committee.
The bill was then read a second time and ordered to be
committed next• Wednesday.
POOR'S RATE.

Mr. BERNARD moved for leave to bring in a bill for a
more equitable distribution of the charge on landed pro-
perty for the relief of the sick and destitute known by the
name of p,or's rate.
Mr, GARDE seconded the motion.

1\11:._ COX supported the motion, because it would open

the whole question of equalising the poor rate.
Mr. WARNER would not oppose the bill, and quoted
the statements of a writer in a local newspaper, to show the
insufficient house accommodation provided in the country
for the poorer classes in which comfort and decency were
sacrificed, and which demanded great alleviation. It was
admitted by those acquainted with the subject that pa-
rochial rating failed to effect the object it proposed, and
that the area of rating should be considerably extended.
He thought legislation on this subject necessary, but
he did not feel satisfied that the present measure would
meet the evils of the existing system.
Mr. PACKE said he also would not oppose the bill at
its present stage, but trusted it would be carefully consi-
dered by the house on the second reading.
Sir B. LEIGHTON did not consider the bill would re-
dress the grievance complained of in respect to the labour •
in; population.
Mr VILLIERS said that after the discussion which had
taken place it must he evident that a further discussion on
the subject was unnecessary, particularly as Government
did not intend to oppose the introduction of the bill. He
thought that the object of the hon. member who brought
forward the measure was to substitute union rating for
parochial rating. That principle had been discussed pre
viously, but had not been sanctioned by the house, although
it had received the approval of different commissioners. The
subject was surrounded with difficulties, several of which had
been removed, and greater facilities afforded for legis-
lating on the question, The hon. member here entered into
a statement to show that of late years there had been a con-
siderable improvement in regard to the relief' of the poor,
and he expressed a belief that ultimately the principle of
union rating would be adopted, whether it would be during
the present session or not he would not undertake to pre-
dict.
Mr. HENLEY would not oppose the motion, but he be-
lieved the bill would have an effect directly opposite to that
which it proposed, At present there was no pressure in the
country in regard to the poor-rate, and there was plenty of
employment.
Mr. BARROW said that the law of settlement was be-
coming obsolete, and he thought any further change should
be introduced gradually. He objected to extending the area
of rating, as it would diminish the interest which guardians
would feel in keeping down the rates.
Mr. BERNARD said that as he understood the subject
was under the consideration of Government, he would with-
draw his bill.

Leave was then given to withdraw the bill.
NEW WRIT,

On the motion of Colonel TAYLOR a wait was ordered
'or the election of a member for the county of Dorset, in
he room of Mr. Henry Ker Seymer, who had accepted
;he Chiltern Hundreds.

The house then adjourned at 3 o'clock.

RUSSIAN IMPERIAL PICTURE GALLERY.—The
new catalogue of the picture gallery of the Imperial
Hermitage Museum has just appeared. This magnificent
oollection contains 1,631 choice pictures, amongst 7,000 or
8,000 collected gradually by the Sovereigns of Russia, from
the reign of Peter the Great. The nucleus of the collection
is formed from the celebrated galleries of Baron Crozat at
Paris, Count Bruhe, Minister of King Augustus 11. of
Poland, and Sir Robert Walpole, Prime Minister of George
I. and George 11. of Great Britain. To these riches ac-
quired by the Empress Catherine 11. her successors united
the finest pictures from the Malmaison, of King William
11. of the Netherlands, the frescoes of Raphael from the gal-
lery of Campana, and others. Of these 1,631 paintings, 327
belong to the Italian schools, 111 to the Spanish schools, 944
to the German schools (Flemish, Dutch, and German), 8 to
the English school, 182 to the French school, and 65 to the
Russian school. The true richness of the Hermitage con-
sists in its Spanish and Flemish collections. Among the
first are reckoned 20 of Murillo and six of Velasquez ; among
those of the Flemish and Dutch painters, 60 Rubens, 34
Vandyck, 40 Teniers the younger, 41 Rembrandt, 60 Wou-
verman, 9 Potter, &e. The Hermitage is the only Conti-
nental museum that possesses a small collection of English
pictures, among which figures the chef-d'oeuvre of Sir
Joshua Reynolds, a composition that exhibits numerous
faces, representing the " Infant Hercules Strangling the
Serpents." The picture was ordered of this celebrated
painter by the Empress Catherine IL The French school
is the richest after that of the Louvre. Among the paint-
ings of Russian artists, some are very remarkable. The
gallery occupies 39 rooms and cabinets on the Bel Etage of
the Museum.

AN OTHER FEMALE BURNT TO DEATH.—OU Mon-
day night, about 9 o'clock, a young woman of the
name of Esther "larding, an indiarubber golosh maker, who
resides in Green-street, Grange-road, Bermondsey, met
with the following melancholy accident : :It appears that
the unfortunate young woman was standing in front of the
fire preparing some solution used for joining indiarubber
together, which consisted of equal portions of turpentine
and indiarubber. While so engaged the composition caught
fire, and instantly blazed forth with great rapidity. 'She
lifted it off the grate, when the liquid fire ran down the front
of her dress, which instantly ignited. The poor creature
was immediately enveloped in fire from head to foot. She
screamed for help, and her piercing cries brought a lodger
to her assistance, who, after many futile attempts, at length
succeeded in tearing off her wearing apparel, but not before
she was burnt in an awful manner, in fact a more distressing
spectacle is rarely heard of than Mrs. Harding presents, not
a feature being recognisable. She was put to bed and a
surgeon was in immediate attendance, but ha says nothing
in the world can save her, the fire having nearly reached her
heart.

THE
NEILGHERRIES.—The population of the
Ncilgherry Rills in India is rapidly increasing, in conse-
quence of the extensive plantations there of coffee, tea, and
cinchona plantations.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE--This Dayt

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
CHELMSFORD RACES--THIS DAY.
STAND HANDICAP PLATE.

Usher
Fanfreluche .. 2

Eleven ran.

DANISH ORDER FOR THE CAPTURE 01'
ALL GERMAN VESSELS.

HAMBURG, Feb. 17,12.45 p.m.—Official notifica-
tion has been given by the Danish Government to
the Secretary of the Prussian Legation at Copen-
hagen, that orders have been issued to Danish
men-of-war to capture all German vessels.

The Olympic Theatre,