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

MUSEUM FOR PATENTS.

The Earl of PO WIS asked whether her Majesty's Go-
vernment intended during the present year to establish a
proper museum and library tor patents? Too noble earl
referred to the want of a well-organised establishment of the
nature referred to, because If such was really in existence
it would afford technics for persons contemplating bygone
inventions, and also allow inventors to become acquainted
with that which had already been discovered.
Earl (MANVILLE agreed in many of the observations
of phe noble lord, and ho thought the present accommoda-
tion ought to be extended. lie could give no distinct answer
to the question furtherthan assuring his noble friend that
the matter was under the consideration of Government

The Earl of ROMNEY called attention to the state:of the
law with regard to the removal of clerks of the peace from
their Aloe, and asked whether Government would consider
the subject with 8: view of amending the lsw in that respect.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said the subject would be
taken into 3onsideration with a view of ascertaining who.
ther some judicious amendment of the law could not be
made. _ _ _

.....
Lord CRANWORTII: thought the evil complained
of could be met if the power of removing clerks of the peace
from (Ace was given to the Lord Chancellor.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OP COMMONS—This Evening.
The SPEAKER took the chair shortly before 4 o'clock.
NEW MEMBER.

Mr. Mooß took the oaths and his scat on his election for
Brighton, in the room of Mr. Coningham, and was received
with cheers from the Conservative benches.
GREAT EASTERN AND NORTHERN JUNCTION
RAILWAY BILL.

On the motion for the second reading of this bill,
Mr. G. 11. PACKE opposed the motion on the ground
that there was no necessity for the undertaking,and moved
the rejection of the bill.
Captain J Eft IS supported the motion.
Mr. EGERTON, as a director of the Great Northern,
sail that he did not oppose the bill on the ground of the
lucre fact that it would introduce competition with the
line in which he was interested, but that it enunciated a
new principle, namely, as to the tights of a largo commer-
cial company who bad no interest in the proposed under-
taking to come forward and subscribe a largo sum for its
construction. Ile therefore would aeoond the amendment,
Lord J. MANNERS opposed the second reading of the
bill on principle.
After some remarks by Alderman SALOIiONS,
Mr. MASSEY said that the time had passed when Par-
liament would take into consideration the question of com-
petition as being a ground for _rejecting a bill. With
reference to the second objection, he could only say that
the company who had advanced the money for the new
lino had complied with the standing orders and could not be
objected to at present.
Sir J. SHELLEY protested against the house being in-
fluenced by the opinion of the Chairman of Ways and
M eans.
Col. WILSON-PATTEN took exception to the remark
of the last speaker.
Mr. PACKE then withdrew his amendment, sad the bill
was read a second time.
ARMY ESTIMATES.
Sir 11. WILLOUGHBY asked the Under Secretary of
State for War if the accounts of th• army receipts and ex-
penditure for the year ending March 31, 1863, would be
presented previous to the discussion on the Army Estimates
tor the current year?
The Marquis of IIARTINGTON said he believed that
explanatory statements had already been laid on the table,
and the necounts in question would be in the hands of Wm.
members in the course of a few days.

TARIFF BETWEEN AUSTRIA AND THE
ZOLLVEREIN.
Mr. S. BEAUMONT asked the President of theßoard of
Trade for the production of a tariff between Austria and
the Zoliverein, which was officially published at Vienna in
November. 1863.
Mr. lIUTT said that the doctunent alluded to would be
laid on the table shortly.
CAPTURE OF BRITISH ♦ESSELS.
Mr. 11. BAILLI It asked the Attorney-General whether
he was of opinion that when a English merchant vessel WAN
captured by an American ship of war in the harbour of a
neutral State, it was the duty of the Government to wait for
the action and decision of a prize court before reparation was
demanded from the American Government; and, if so,
whether the Government would also have to wait for the
action of a prize court it' an English vessel should bo taken
out as a prize from an English harbour; and, whether, the
capture of the British wand Science by an American
ship of war in the Mexican harbour of Matamoros was not
a violation of international law, and a direct act of hosti-
lity against England.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said with regard to the
principle involved, it could not be doubted that when an
English vessel was captured in neutral waters, the Govern-
ment should not wait fur the action of a prize court. In
reference to the NUM of the Science, it wan denied by the
American captain who CRlAMlllret:hyOuoveul:
in neutral waters, and no answer had yet been received v
this Government in reply to their communication with tilt%
thanaw- :t
that
American Government.
make that representation. 11e was happy to 1,:le
o
state that nothing was more distinct
no neutral vessel could be taken by the American Govern.
went in the Mexican waters, and that even if •
by stress of weather beyond the neutral it were driven
still be protected. line they would
THE REV. DR. PA/
Mr. O'NEILL asked the Undo NE.
Foreign Affitirm whether her M r Secretary of State for
taken any steps to obtain compensation aibety's Government had
by the Rev. Dr. Payne, in co for losses sustained
upon him by a Greek soldier nsequenee of an assault made
whether it WAR Intended
to
tr. in April, 1862 ; and, if not,
Mr. LA.Y AR I) •
punishment was sufficient for his offen:dee(n.
dthat Ake any steps for this purpose?
said the soldier had been condemned
to twelve months' imprisonment, and ho thought that
I.ll(tahrealeteaditrowas seized

RURAL PARISHES.
Mr. ROGERS naked the Secretary of State for the
flow ell RS
if, after n county had been divided into
highway districts under the Act of ISG2, facilitiea bo
allot* tot rural parishes, where the population according

to the last census was more than 3,000, and such parL 'Shims
desire to withdraw from such districts by adopting the L noel
Government Act of 1868 P

Sir G. GREY said that no additional facilities would be
afforded for the purpose mentioned by the hon. member.

QUEEN'S COLLEGE (CORK).
Lord NAAS asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whe-
ther the report of the President of the Queen's College,
Cork, to her Majesty, for the past year, had yet been pre-
sented; and whether that report contained the whole of the
correspondence which had taken place between the Irish.,
Government, Dr. Bullen, and Sir It. Kane; and if it doe,i
not whether he would lay the entire correspondence on di
table of the house

Sir R. PEEL said the report of the President of Coe
Queen's College in Cork had been presented, and was l aid
on the table of the house yesterday. There would be no
objection to publish the correspondence alluded to.

RELATIONS WITH BRAZIL.

Mr. HUNT asked the Under Secretary of State for Fo-
reign Adults whether the Portuguese Government had ten-
dered its good diked to bring about a renewal of diplomatic
relations between this country and Brazil, and whether her
Majesty's Government had accepted those good offices, and
whether any papers upon the subject would be laid upon
the table?
Mr. LAYARD said that the offers of the Portuguese
Government made last year had been accepted by his noble
friend at the head of the Foreign-office, but he could not
state whether it had been accepted by the other Government
or not. No correspondence had taken place on the
subject.
VESTRY CESS ABOLITION BILL.
Sir R. PEEL, in moving the second reading of this
bill, said that the object was to abolish a power which the
vestries in Ireland had possessed for a considerable tire;
as it was found that these powers were no longer desirable.
The right hon. gentleman entered into some details in
support of the bill,
eirr E. GROGAN would not oppose the bill, but thought
it required much consideration.
Lord NAAS ejected to a portion of the bill.
After some observations from Colonel French, Mr. Lefroy,
Colonel Dunne, and other hon. members,
The bill was road a second time, and ordered to be corn.
mitted on Thursday next.
PENAL SERVITUDE ACTS AMENDMENT.
Sir G. GREY, in moving for leave to introduce a bill to
amend the Penal Servitude Acts, said that the measure was
founded on the report of the commissioners which was pre-
sented to hon, members too late last session to enable him
to bring in a bill on the subject. While there had been an
increase last year in a particular description of offence, such
as to justify the alarm of the public, still, notwith-
standing the increase in the population, it appeared
from the report of the commission that there had been a
decrease in crime in the United Kingdom. The mom-
, mendations of the commission were of two classes, the first
of which related to administrative details, which no doubt
were very important but required no alteration in the exist-
ing law to give them effect. The second class did require
some alterations, and the bill was so frstned so as to effect
that object, and amongst that class of recommendations was
that the term of penal servitude should not be less than
seven years. It had been found that sentences for short
periods of penal servitude had not failed in the object, but
had actually produced an injurious result.
LLI:FT SITTING.]

Bank of England Return,--This Evening,

An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Sth Victorin,
cap. 32, for tho week ending on Wednesday, the 17th day
of Feb., 1864

188 DE DEPARTMENT.

Notes bend .......X27.813,1.!5,

Government Debt .£11,015,1C0
Other Securitien .. 3.634,900
Gold Coin & Bullion 12,863,125
Silver Bullion ....

£27,513,124