The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-07 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS—This Evening.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at the usual hour.

THE BOMBARDMENT OF SONDERBURG.

The Earl of SHAFTESBURY drew the attention of
the noble earl the Secretary of Foreign Affairs to the tele-
gram stating that Sonderburg had been bombarded by the
Prussians without any previous knowledge to the inhabi-
tants. He could not say the statement was true. He
hoped it was not, but if it was, it was one of the most out-
rageous acts ever perpetrated, not only in civilized, but un-
civilzed nations. He trusted that if such was likely to be
repeated, the British fleet would be at once despatched to
put a stop to such cowardly and vac st terrible atrocities.
Earl RUSSELL said he had seen the telegram, and he
had taken steps to know whether it was true. In the course
of a few days he should be in the possession of correct in-
formation, and until that time he must defer giving any
opinion on the subject.
DENMARK. _

Earl GREY asked the noble lord whether, when the
noble lord, not now in his place, brought forward his
motion with respect to Denmark, he would take the same
objection to a discussion on the subject, similar to that he
did previous to the Easter holidi..ys, and whether he would
object to a discussion being taken in the early part of the
correspondence on the subject that had been laid on the
table.
Earl RUSSELL said he could not now say that papers
were to be laid on the table or negotiations were now going
on, because all the Powers had agreed to a conference.
He should not object to a discussion, neither did he think
it desirable to separate the correspondence in order
.that
different parts of it might be separately discussed.
THE LEASES AND SALES OF LETTERED
ESTATES ACT. ENCLOS URE OF HAMP-
STEAD-HEATH.
L'ird CRANWORTH moved the second reading of this
bill, which he said was merely for the purpose of improving
an act of Parliament passed some eight years. ago, which
enabled certain estates to be improved by granting building
leases.
The Earl of MALMESBURY approved of the bill.
The LORD CHANCELLOR also thought the bill would
simplify matters which now were left in doubt by the
former bill.
The bill was read a second time.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—This Evening.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following bills were read a third time and passed :
Finchley, Willesden, and Acton Railway—Haslingden
and Rawtenstall Water—and Land Securities Company.
The order for committing the Colne Fishery Bill was
read and discharged, and the bill was withdrawn.

NEW WRIT.
On the motion of Mr. BAND a writ was ordered to ism
for the election of a member for Fyfe, in the room of Mr.
James Erskine Wemyes, deceased.
BREECH-LOADING RIFLES.
Mr. ONSLO W asked the Under Secretary of State for
War, whether his attention has been called to the vast
superiority of the Prussian breech-loading rifles in the
Danish campaign, as described in the letter of the Times'
correspondentf rom Sonderburel
The Marquis of HARTINGTON said he had no reason
to believe that the breech.loading rifles in question were
superior to those given out to our own army, and it was
necessary to give the latter a fair trial.
THE BUDGET.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose to
make his financial statement. The right hon. gentleman
having adverted to the circumstances of the past
and preceding financial years, said that the ex-
expenditure of the past year was £67,749,000 on ordinary
matters, but it was increased to £68,286,000 in consequence
of the war in New Zealand. A sum of £15,469,000 had
been voted for the army expenditure was £15,469,000, but
notwithstanding the war referred to the actual disburse-
ments were only £14,638,000. For the navy the vote was
£10,736,000, but the expenditure was less. Having referred
to other items of expenditure, he said that the actual
reduction effected in the total disbursement for the public
service was £640,000. The balance of income over expen-
diture for the past year was £3,152,000, but deducting the
expenses of fortifications and other outlays reduced the
surplus to £2,037,000. The right hon. gentleman
then referred in detail to the other sources of income, in-
cluding Customs, to show that there was an appreciable
improvement in the prosperity of the country, as demon-
strated by these reliable indicia of the condition of the com-
munity. He contended that contrasting the finances and
expenditure of the past and present financial year there
were unquestionable proofs of the growth of the revenue
of the country. In support of his position the right hon,
gentleman referred to the past revenues from 1861 to the
present year, to show that, notwithstanding the important
remissions of duties, there had been an increase of 5,110,000,
and that the national income had increased by inherent
vigour at the rate of £1,000,000 a year from 1858 and 1860.
With regard to the national debt, which now amounted to
£791,794,000, which showed an actual reduction, which,
however, would leave an annual demand of £26,000,000 to
£26,500,600 a year. He also entered into retrospect of the
last three years to show that, notwithstanding the dis-
tress that had arisen in a certain branch of the
national industry, there was a manifest improvement
in the material condition of the industrial portion of the
population. He deduced the conclusion from these facts
that England showed she was the great champion of peace,
not only for her own selfish interests, but for the benefit of
the human race. He appealed to past and present experi-
ence to prove that free trade legislation in this country had
been followed by augmentation of income. He cited various
statistics in support of this proposition. He admitted that
the paper manufacture was depressed by circumstances, but
these circumstances had no reference to the remission of
this duty, and there had been an increase in the number
of papermakers since that remission, from which he in-
ferred that protection had a paralysing and freedom in
trade, an invigorating effect on this particular branch
of manufacture. He denied that the papermakers
were dependent on foreign legislation in regard
to the duty on rags, but on their own: resources, and
he thought it right to state that the Emperor of the
French proposed to make a remission on the duty on
rags. With reference to the receipts from the
the duty on spirits, from which one-fifth of the
whole revenue was raised by the course of legislation which
had been pursued, Notwithstanding depressing circum-
stances in this country and in Ireland, there was an irease
during the past year of £828,000. It was prove ncd
that
there was a great improvement in the national taste
which had taken the direction of a mild and healthful spi▪
rit
instead of one of a more ardent and injurious spirit,
while there was an increase in the export of distilled
spirits from this country. The consumption of forei▪
gn
wine had risen from 1859 about 2,000,000 gallons,
being at present 10,634,000 gallons. (Hear, hear.)
The legislation on tobacco had a most beneficial effect,
instead of the reverse, and reducedT smuggling.
The duty from tobacco had risen to £
95,000. . (Rear,
hear.) Having adverted to the improvement on the conti-
nent as regarded the exportation of articles of utility to this
country. There was of course a continuance of a large
amount of pauperim in this country, but it was very much
' decreased. There was an increase from the funded debt
I The charges on the consolidated fund amounted to
£1,910,00. The estimates for the army for the year
were £14,844,000, for the navy £10,432,000,
while the disbursements in regard to miscellaneous estimates
amounted to £7,628,000, making a total of expenditure of
£66,890,000. The income for the past year from customs
I was £23,163,000 from Excise £18,030,000 stamps £9,320,000
taxes £3,350,000, from incom tax £8,600,000, from the
post-office £3,950,000, from Crown lands £2,250,000,
from miscellaneous sources, £600,0000, making a total
of £69,460,000, white left a balance of income
over expenditure of £2,Boo,ooo—(hear, hear, and cheers)—
from which there was to be made a deduction for the re-
served fund of £BO,OOO. He proposed to alter the duty on
corn from is. per quarter to 3d. per 1001 b, which would be
found to have a beneficial operation.
OFT erz4alNG.)