The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-19 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 for patents? Tne 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 facilities for persons contemplating bygone
inventions, and also allow inventors to become acquainted
with that which had already been discovered.
Earl GRANVILLE agreed in many of the observations
of the noble lord, and he thought the present accommoda-
tion ought to be extended. He could give no distinctanswer
to the question further than 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 office, and asked whether Government would consider
the subject with a view of amending the law in that respect.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said the subject would be
taken into consideration eOth a view of ascertaining whe-
ther some judicious am?dment of the law could not be
made.
Lord CRANWORTH thought the evil complained
of could be met if the power of removing clerks of the peace
from office was given to the Lord Chancellor.
Their lordships then adjourned.

SOUSE OF COMMONS—Yesterday.
The SrEAKER took the chair shortly before 4 o'clock.
NEW MEMBER.
Mr. Moon took the oaths and his seat 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. H. PACK E opposed the motion on the ground
that there was no necessity for the undertaking,and moved
the rejection of the bill.
Captain JERVIS supported the motion.
AIL EGERTON, as a direetor of the Great Northern,
sail that he did not oppose the bill on the ground of the
mere 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 rights of a large commer-
cial company who had no interest in the proposed under-
taking to come forward and subscrioe a large sum for its
construction. He therefore would second the amendment.
Lord J. MANNERS opposed the second reading of the
Lill on principle.
After some remarks by Alderman SALoMONS,
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
referenos to the second objection, he could only say that
the company who had advanced the money for the new
line 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

Means.
Col. WILS9N-PATTEN took exception to the remark
of the last speaker.
Mr. PACKE then withdrew his amendment, and the bill
was read a second time.
ARMY ESTIMATES.
Sir H. WILLOUG tIEY asked the Under Secretary of
State for War if the accounts of the army receipts and ex-
penditure for the year ending March 31, 1863, would be
presented previous to the discussion on the Army Estimates
for the current year ?

The Marquis of lIARTINGTON said he believed tha
explanatory statements had already been laid on the table,
and the accounts in question would be in the hands of hen.
members in the course of a few days.
TARIFF BET WEEN AUSTRIA AND THE
ZOLLVEREIN.
Mr. S. BEAUMONT asked the President of theßoard of
Trade for the production ot a tariff between Austzia and
the Zollverein, which was officially published at Vienna in
November, 1863.
Mr. BUTT said that the document alluded to would be
laid on the table shortly.
CAPTURE OF BRITISH VESSELS.
Mr. H.BAILLIE asked the Attorney-Gene:al whether
he was of opinion that when an English merchantvessel was
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 °fa 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 if an English vessel should be taken
out as a prize from an English !Arbour ; and, whether, the
capture of the British vessel Science by an American
ship of war in the Mexicsn 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
princ;ple involved, it c ,uld not be doubted that when an
English vessel was captured in neutral waters, the Govern-
ment should not wait for the action of a prize court. In
reference to the case of the Science, it was denied by the
American captain who captured the vessel that it was seised
in neutral waters, and no answer had yet been received by
this Government in reply to their communication with the
American Government. All they could have done was to
make that representation. He was happy to be Mlle to
stato that nothing was more distinct and clear than that
no neutral vessel could be taken by the American Govern.
ment in the Mexican waters, and that even if it were driven
by stress ot weather beyond the neutral line they would
still be protected.
THE REV. DR. PA/NE.
Mr. O'NEILL asked the Under Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs whether her Majesty's Government had
taken any steps to obtain compensation for losses sustained
by the Rev. Dr. Payne, in consequence of au assault made
upon him by a Greek soldier in April, 1862 ; and, if not,
whether is was intended to take any steps for this purpose?
Mr. LAYAR D said that the soldier had been condemned
to twelve months' imprisonment, and he thought that
punishment was sufficient for his offence.
RURAL PARISHES.
Mr. ROGERS asked the Secretary of State for the
Hom Department, if, after a county had been divided into
highway districts under the Act of 1862, facilities would be
afforded to rural parishes, where the population according
to the last census was more than 3,000, and such parishes
desire to withdraw from such districts by adopting the Local
Government Act of 1858?
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. Batten, and Sir R. Kane; and if it did
not whether he would lay the entire correspondence on the
table of the house ?
ciaSeir Be PEEL said the report of the President of the
n'a College in Cork had been presented, and was laid
on the table of the house yesterday. There would be no
objection te' Publish the correspondence alluded to.
RELATIONS WITH BRAZIL.
Mr. 1113.1iT coked the Under Secretary of State for Fo-
reign. Affairs whether the Portuguese Government had ten-
dered its good ete„s to bring about a renewal of diplomatic
relations between this country
had conantry and Brazil, and whether her
Majesty's Governraeu
accepted those good offices, and
whether any papers upon the subject would be laid upon
the tab'e ?

Mr. L.: YARD said that the offers of the Portuguese
G.)vernment made last year had been accepted by his noble
friend at the head of the Poreign_aace,
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 wuich the
vestries in Island had possessed for a considerable time,
as it was found that these powers were no longer desirable.
The right hon. gentleman entered into some details in
support of the bill.
Sir E. GROGAN would not oppose the bill, but thought
it required much consideration.
Lord NAAS &ejected to a portion of the bill,
After s;)me obaer vations from Colonel French, Mr. Lefroy,
Cblonel Dunne, and other hon. members,
The bill was read a second time, and ordered to be corn.
iniVed on. Thursday next.
PENAL SERVITUDE ACTS AMENDMENT.

33V en yeais,

Sir G. GREY, in moving for leave to
e measure introduce a bill to
amend the Penal Servitude Acts, said that th
founded on the report of the commissioners which
was was
pre-
sented to hon. members too late last session to enable him m
to bring in a bill on the subject. While there had been au
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 recom-
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 th,., exist.
ing law to give them effect. The second class did require
some alterations, and the bill was so fremed so as to effect
tbat object, and amongst that class of recommendations was
thet the term of penal servitude should not be less than
He found that in. England, since the act was