The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-12 00:00:00

CAPTAIN EDWARDS' CLAIM.

Sir A. HOOD asked the Secretary of State for India,
whether he had laid upon the table of the house the papers
concerning Captain Edwards' claim (Outth.), according

to the address of 22d April; and, if not, what is the
reason of the delay, and when he will lay them upon the
table of the house.

Sir C. WOOD said he could not be respo a-41 le for the
printing of the papers in question within a given time.
WATER SUPPLIES,
Mr, FERRAND called the attention oF the house to pro-
ceedings which had been adopted by water v, rks companies
to obtain the sanction of Parliament to their schemes, the
means used to obtain water supplies, the effect upon the
localities from which they are taken, and to the great
danger to which the lives of the people residing in the vi-
cisit y of their store reservoirs are continually exposed ;
and to move for copy of Mr Leather's report to Mr
Re wlinson after he had inspected the Bradford reservoirs.
F.aving referred to the catastrophe at Bradford and others
of a similar character, he said this was a subject of the
greatest importance, and one that imperatively de-
manded legislative interference. He denied that in
the statements he had previously made in reference to
this matter he had, as the Home Secretary asserted,
been guilty of exaggeration. He contended that it was most
disgraceful that companies should be allowed to con-
struct these reservoirs without adequate precaution for the
protection of life and property in their neighbourhood, and
that Parliament had not exercised proper vigilance in
sanctioning such schemes. He described the Bradford
reservoir as a gigantic engineering job, and said that it had
not only failed to supply the inhabitants of the locality
with a sufficiency of spring water, but actually produced a
dearth of that necessary of life in the neighbouring districts.
The diversion of the water from these districts had a most
injurious effect, and engendered malaria by depriving the
valleys of a proper cleansing by the action of the water.
Notwithstanding these facts, boards of health hadmo autho-
rity to remedy the existing defects, and he thought these
boards should be empowered, on the report of a medical
man, to interfere and enforce the steps for the preservation
of the public health.
Sir G. GREY said it would be quite impossible for the
Government to undertake the responsibility of a general
inspection of the reservoirs throughout the country. Were
they to do so the owners would be relieved from the respon-
sibility which at present rested upon them. If any reser-
voir was in such a dangerous state as to excite alarm legal
proceedings might be taken against the owners by indict-
ment. With regard to any future water bills, he thought
the committees to which they were referred should insist
upon the insertion of stringent clauses for the security of
the public.
Mr W. E. FURS I'.E.tt was of opinion that the Govern-
' rnent ought to appoint a commission to consider the whole
subject.

THE DANO-GERMAN QUESTION.
Lord PROBY, the Comptroller of the Royal House.
hold, brought up and read her Majesty's reply to the
address of the house in reference to this subject, and
expressed her pleasure that honourable members
wore satisfied with the policy of not interfering by arms in
the affairs of Denmark, which she had deemed it advisable
to adopt.
Lord PALMERSTON, in reply to a question by Mr D.
Griffith, as to the meaning of an expression used by his lord-
ship relative to the course which might be adopted in the
event of certain contingencies arising in Denmark, said
that the best answer he could give was that, so far as her
Majesty's Government were informed, they had reason to
believe that there was no intention of attacking Copen
hagen.

Sir W. JOLLIFFE called the attention of the house to
the memorial of Sir Francis Bond Head to the Secretary of
State for the Colonies, presented on the sth of June last,
and moved that, in the opinion of this house, the great but
unrequited services rendered by Sir F. Head, when Go-
vernor of Upper Canada, in the years 1837 and 1838, called
for the favourable consideration of her Majesty's Go-
vernment.
Mr CARDWELL fully admitted the distinguished ser-
vices of Sir F. Head, and stated that his case, in common
with that of other colonial governors who had memorialised
the Treasury, was under the consideration of the Govern-
ment, and that at an early period next session he proposed
to make a communication to the house on the subject.
Sir J. PAKINGTON trusted that, as Sir F. Head ',arid
saved the province of Canada to the British Crown, iris irre-
sistible claims would be recognised by the Go-iernment.
Sir F. SMITH observed that generosity and justice alike
required that some satisfactory provision should be made
for Sir F. Head.

Mr ADDERLEY remarked that the losses of the rebels
in Canada had been made good, whilst Sir F. Head had
for many years been deprived of public employment.
After a few words from Mr. ANGERSTEIN, the motion
was withdrawn,
The house then resolved itself into committee of supyly.
Sir R. PEEL proposed a vete of £316,769 for the pur-
poses of national education in Ireland. In doing so, he ex-
plained in detail the expenditure of the Board, and stated
that the reports of the inspectors on convent schools would
bo published in the course of a few days, and he believed
that they would on the whole be found satisfactory.
After considerable discussion the vote was agreed to.
THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

Mr WALPOLE then moved the vote of £92,127 for the
British Museum, and in doing so he calico the attention of
the committee to two valuable acquisitions made by the
trustees during the past year. The first was a most impor-
tant collection of human and azaltaul /emelt..., w ....Levitz, etc.,
discovered in the South of France. This cost £l,OOO. The
trustees had also purchased a beautiful bronze. lamp, found
upon the site of Julien's palace at Paris; and, since the
estimates were brought in, they had secured for the Museum
some fine works of art from Naples, including a statue of
Mercury, an ancient equestrian statue, and other objects of
peat interest. He did not wish at the present time to enter
upon the question whether the different collections should
be kept together, or whether they should be divided. He
desired, however, to express his opinion that, whether the
Government removed the natural historycollection to South
Kensington or not, the matter ought to be finally deter-
mined by next session ; and if the Government came to the
conclusion that the collections should be kept together, he
would suggest the expediency of purchasing all the houses
in the immediate neighbourhood of the Museum, all of :which
belonged to the same landlord.
Mr AYRTON the ught that if anything co':ltd reconcile
one to the anomalous nature of the present vote, it was the
conciliatory manner in which it was proposed by the right
hon. gentleman opposite. But he c
-Jneidered the vote should
be proposed on the undivided r es ponsibility of Government.
He thought it would be de
7.;trable if arrangements were car-
ried out by the trustee; for opening the British. Museum
from seven or eight e ;lock in the evening until ten, in
order to suit tb d convenience of the great bulk of the inhabi-
tants. The suggestion et the right hon. gentleman for
purchasing the ground round the British Museum from the
Duke of Bedford was worthy the attention of the Govern-
Inuit, and be did not think they could no anything better
than to sell the site at Kensington and apply the proceeds
to the purchase of the ground round the Britiish Museum.
(Hear, hear.) Kensington was cut off by a large unbuilt
area from the bulk of the population of the metropolis, and
it was the most inconvenient place that could be found in
the whole metropolis for a museum. He had read all the
charters, and he saw nothing in them to prevent the Govern-
ment from selling the site of Kensington. (Hear, hear.)
Mr LOCKE thought it strange the hon. member should
have made the same speech to-night which he had made
last year. The hon. member spoke as if he was always in
the Tower Hamlets. He believed the hon. member never
visited Kensington-gardens—never rode in Hyde-park;
for if he had gone to those places he would have found they
were crowded every Sunday, and if the Kensington Museum
and the British Museum were open on Sunday, they would
be crowded too. He would not mind the charters, for they
were stiff things to read ; but this he would say, that the
Government were bound by the terms of the trust to de-
vote the site at Kensington to purposes of science and art.
Mr WHITE would not go into the question of the ex-
pediency or non-expediency of removing the natural history
collections at the British Museum ; but he thought if the
museum were opened at night it would be of great advan-
tage to the public.
Mr H. LEWIS broughttefore the committee the hard-
ships of the rule which prevented the attendants at the
museum, whose hours at this season of the year were from
9 till 6, leaving the premises daring the whole of that time,
except upon the special permission of the principal librarian,
The hon member referred to numerous letters which he had
received on the subject, but declined to name the writers.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
rule adopted at the British Museum was in strict conformity
with that of other establishments. While admitting that
the House of Commons was a court of appeal for all griev•
ances, he could not help asking whether this particular
grievance ought not to have been, in the first instance,
submitted to the governing body of the museum.
Mr WALPOLE remarked that the opening of the British
Museum at night, when it would necessarily be lighted
with gas, would be seriously injurious to the sculpture and
books.

After some-further conversation, the vote was agreed to.
The Chairman was ordered to report progress, and the
house resumed.
INLAND REVENUE STAMP DUTIES BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
lONIAN ISLANDS STATES' ACT OF PARMA-
ME .NT REPEAL, &e., BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
MILITARY PAY BILL.
This bill teas read a second time.
EXPIRING LAWS CONTINUANCE BILL.
ISLE OF MAN HA.B,Bou as ACT AMENDMENT
This bill was read a second time.
BILL.

This bill pasqed through committee,
NAVAL AND VICTUALLING STORES BILL.
This Lill passed through committee on recommittal.
COURT OF CHANCERY (IRELAND) BILL.
TThhee
Aorad
merinf°irstrthati
a third time and passed. (Scotland) Bill was read
isonbilolfwTarsursetsad( and discharged.
BLEACHING AND DYEING WORKS ACTS
EXTENSION BILL,
On the motion for the second readily,- of this bill,
Mr W. FORSTER moved that the bill ba road a second
time that day three months,