The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-23 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS—This Evening.

The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock,
THE SUEZ CANAL, &c.
Mr. ROEBUCK gave notice that on Thursday next he
would ask the Government to produce the correspondence
with Sir Henry I3ulwer, relative to the Suez Canal, and
also for other papers in connection with the communication
with the Pasha of Egypt.
SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS—IRELAND.
Mr. G RE GOB,Y gave notice that he would call the atten-
tion of the house to the subject of the subsidising of scien-
tific institutionit;
in Ireland.
THE FOREIGN r gLICYOF THE GOVERNMENT
Mr. B. JOHNSTON
Bzve notice that he would move
that in the opinion of the hou:_qo the conduct of the Go-
vernynent in referenc to foreign
....ffat.rs was calculated to
powers.
lower the country in the estimatiun of I,'"'gn

VACCINATING SHEEP.
In reply to Sir J. C. JERVOISE,
Mr. LOWE said that the report, relative to tho
ments that were being made as to the vaccination of sh..,ePp
would be laid before Parliament before Easter.

PASSAGE OF TOBACCO THROUGH THE
BLOcK ADE IN AMERICA.
Sir R. CLIFTON asked the Under Secretary of State'
for Foreign Affairs, whether it was true that her
Majesty's Government have, on the application of
the French Government, consented that the French Go-
vernment should pass a quantity of tobacco through the
blockade with the approval of the Washington Govern-
ment; and whether her Majesty's Government have
thoaght it their duty to make any similar application for
the passing of cotton for the benefit of the distressed opera-
tives of Lancashire.
Mr. LAYARD explained that at the time of the break-
ing out of the war there was a quantity of tobacco belong-
ing to Austria and France at Richmond, and arrangements
were made for its transmission to these countries. The sub-
ject of cotton was entirely a different question.
EXTENSION OF THE COUNTY FRANCHISE.
Mr. LUCKE KING moved for leave to bring in a bill
to extend the franchise in the counties in England and
Wales. He said that the object of the bill was to introduce
into the constituency of the country a class that, from their
intelligence and numbers, were entitled to have a voice in
the election of their representatives in Parliament, he con-
tended that the increase in population justified a corre-
sponding extension in the franchise, and he drew the
attention of the house to the fact that there had been a
decrease in the number of county electors within the
last few years, they having dwindled from 622,000 to
619,000, an amount which in no way represented the
population in the rural :districts, the fact being
that not one-fourth of that population had got
a voice. The hon. member then entered into a history
of the different efforts which had been made relative to this
subject in Parliament, but his remarks were listened to with
great indifference by the house, which was numerously
attended.
Mr. HADFIELD seconded the motion.
Sir G. GREY said that the Government did not intend
to oppose the first reading of the bill, and would therefore
allow the debate on the merits of the measure to stand,over
until the second reading.
PUBLIC EXECUTIONS.
Mr. HIBBERT drew the attention of the house to the
demoralising effects of public executions, and moved for the
production of certain papers in reference to the same. The
hon. member cited the evidence given before a commission
appointed on the motion of the Bishop of Oxford
to inquire into the subject, and also the testimony of a com-
petent person who had directed their attention to the matter,
to show that the tendency of public executions was, per se,
demoralising. According to the statements of these
parties, women with children in their arms were present at
these executions, ribaldry, drunkenness, and blasphemy
characterised the spectators, and scenes of a most revolt-
ing character were enacted. Amongst the evidence which
he adduced was that of the sheriffs of different coun-
ties, and he alluded to the graphic description of Mr.
Charles Dickens in a letter to the Times on the occasion of
the execution of the Kennings. He next referred to the
practice which prevailed in Prussia and parts of America,
of having executions in private, which was found to act
beneficially, and that practice had been extended advantage-
ously
:said that capital punishments had failed
personsa.
from the commission of crime, and
ionu
Ms
deterringl yr
i to
A ADuFs tirEal
Li
with rceaf,eorroefd criminalftoorgery
vh eshtatulvtaess tooneseho wvistihteadt
capital
npitel
punishment, or in regard to the crime of murder,
capital punishment was attended with bent,ficial effect. He
said that an execution was an attractive spectacle in the
same way as a prize fight, and he believFl that if a battle
took place within a hundred yards of h
where they
iewiere
assembled it would soon clear the us
deprecated in the strongest terms the:principle of capital
punishment.
Sir G. GREY defended the execution of the five pirates,
which he considered was calculated to lead to good results.
[LEFT SITTING.]

The German and New York passage steamers
are now heavily insured against war risks ; they are all,
however, very fast, and will probably be able to avoid th
Danish men of w -r. The Germania, last week, ran from
the Scillylsles to the Necdles in 14 hours.
BLACK SNOW fell in Puckersdorf, in Austria, the
' other day; The snow contained an eniraalculum,