The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-13 00:00:00

THE MALT DUTY.

Colonel BERKELEY gave notice on behalf of the hon.
and learned member for East Suffolk (Sir F. Kelly) of
his intention to move on Thunday, the 9th of June, for a
select committee on the malt duty.
HER MAJESTY'S SHIP MAJESTIC.

Mr. HADFIELD asked the Secretary to the Admiralty
if his attention had been called to an article which appeared
in the Liverpool Mercury newspaper, respecting the flog-
ging of one of the crew of her Majesty's ship Majestic;
whether the particulars therein stated were correct;
whether the punishment was inflicted in the presence of a
surgeon ; and if he would lay a copy of the proceedings of
the court-martial before the house ?
Lord C. PAGET said the statement referred to amounted
to a foul and wicked libel affecting the character of one of the
most distinguished officers in her Majesty's navy. (Hear,
hear.) The libel on Captain Eaglefleld was almost too
gross to state to the house. In effect, it set forth that when
one of the men was flogged the captain, in giving the signal,
smiled, that the man fainted under the punishment, and
that he was then confined in a dark dungeon charged with
loathsome air. It was unnecessary for him to state
to the house the character which Captain Englefleld
bore in the service. (Cheers.) Three times he had gone
to the North Pole in search of Sir John Franklin—(cheers)
—and he was well known as one of the most humane and
kind-hearted officers in the navy. (Cheers.) When the
petty officers read the calumny they came and denied it.
The result was that they indited a letter, signed by 35 of
them, to the newspaper, the Liverpool Mercury, which had
first published the libel. This letter was a contravention of
the orders of the service, because the Admiralty permitted
no such publications in the newspapers, but as it had been
published he would state its substance to the house. The
noble lord read the letter, which state] that the captain
apparently gave the order to the boatswain to begin the
punishment with regret, and that he kept his eyes on the
deck nearly the whole of the time ; that the man was re-
moved to the cockpit, where men were confined to prevent
desertion, and that lamps were always burning there night
and day; that the officers' cabins were on the same deck; that
eases insubordination had occurred on board the ship/
and that some men could not be reformed though confined
in cells afloat and ashore, and repeatedly punished for dis-
graceful acts. (Hear, hear.) It appeared the man struck
his superior officer while on duty, and there were plenty
of other acts of insubordination. (Hear. hear.) He
trusted the house would agree with him in expressing
he indignation at the publication of so scandalous
a libel. (Hear, hear) It appeared, too, that this
letterthat was sent with the name of another person ; in fact
his
nametme had been forged, and the writer was now
under
Judicial surveillance.
AL LE GE.,..13 RI( a IN A ROMAN CATHOLIC
`- }IATEL AT CAMBRIDGE.
Mr. P 0 LL A.RD..17
ItQUHART, who had a question
on the paper on this sntject, withdrew it, having received
a satisfactory explanation from
the parties interested at
Cambridge.

IRELAND.—SEIZURE OF CROPS.
In reply to Colonel DuroTß,

Sir R PEEL replied that he hoped to introduce a bill
to prevent the seizure and sale of growing crops before
Whitsuntide.