The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-12 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS---This Evening,
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat
,on the Woolssck
at five o'clock.

-----LANCASHIRE DISTRESS.
Lord DEN?IAN presented a petition from the guardians
of the Bakewell Union against the renewal of the rate in
Aid Act. The noble lord said the petitioners considered
the Act was oppressive so far as they were concerned.
Earl GRANVILLE thought there was no ground for the
alarm that the petitioner seemed to entertain. The grievance
was not very great, and the noble earl thought they would
not probably be called upon to contribute for more than
another year.
Their lordships adjourned at 20 minutes past 5.

HOUSE 'OF COMMONS--This Evening,
The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock,
NEW MEMBERS.
Mr. HENDERSON took the oaths and his seat for Dur-
ham, in the room of Sir W. Atherton, deceased; and Mr.
FLEMING for Winchester, in the room of Sir J. East, who
has accepted the stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds.

PETITIONS.
Petitions were presented in favour of the reduction of the
duty on fire insurance; from Manchester, setting forth that
the honour and interest of England was in no way involved
by the war between the German States and Denmark, and
that the treaty of 1852 was in no way binding on the Go-
vernment of this country to intervene by force of arms in
the present hostilities, and that there should be no such in-
tervention.

NAVY ESTIMATES.

These estimates were laid on the table by Lord C. PAGET.

THE MALT DUTIES,
Sir E. DERING gave notice that in committtee on
the bill on this subject he would move an amendment.
DECLINE OF POPULATION IN IRELAND.
Mr. P, HENNESSY gave notice that on 10th of
March he would draw the attention of the house to the
decline of population—lreland, and to make a motion on
the subject.

DISEASED CATTLE.
Mr. R. LONG asked the Secretary of State for the Home
Department, whether his attention had been drawn to the '
statements made by the Government Commissioner, Pro-
fessor Gamzee, as to the losses inflicted on British farmers
by the importation of diseased cattle and sheep ; and,
whether it was his intention to propose any remedy for the
evils complained of ?
Sir G. GREY said that the Under Secretary of State fcr
the Home Department would shortly introduce a bill on
the subject.
CASE OF CAPTAIN MELVILLE WHITE.
Colonel FRENCH asked the Under Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs what compensation had been awarded
to Captain Melville White for the treatment he received
from the Peruvian Government ?
Mr. LAYARD said that he regretted to state that the
award had not been yet given to Captain White, but the
papers in reference to the subject had been placed in the
hands of an eminent lawyer.
PROTECTION OF ACTORS' AND ACTRESSES'

DRESSES FROM FIRES IN THEATRES.
Mr. W. E WART asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Departilient whether it was the intention of the Go-
vernment to introduce any measure for the protection of
actresses and actors from the danger of their dresses taking
fire, to which they are now exposed, at the theatres ?
Sir G. GREY said that the attention of the Lord Cham-
berlain had been drawn to the subject, and he had addressed
a circular to the managers of metropolitan theatres on the
subject, and called a meeting of that body at his office.
The.managers promised to adopt every precaution, but it was
not considered practicable to enforce any particular means for
prevention.
NEW COURTS OF JUSTICE.
Mr. M. SMITH asked the First Commissioner of Works
whether it was the intention of Government to introduce
in the present session any measure for building new courts
of justice in the metropolis, or for improving the state of
the existing courts ?
Mr. COWPER said it was intended to erect the new
courts on a site between Carey-street and the Strand.
DOCK, AT MALTA.—N AVY ESTIMATES.
Captain TALBOT asked the Secretary to the Admi-
ralty, whether the Admiralty still adhered to their project
of constructing a dock at the head of the Marda at Malta,
notwithstanding the strong objections offered to it by
Admiral Sir William Martin and Vice-Admiral Codring-
ton, as appears in the papers lying upon the table ?
Lord C. PAGET said that the Admiralty had no reason
to alter their decision with regard to the new dock at Malta,
and did not feel disposed to make any alteration that would
break faith with the Malta Government. The Admiralty
had sent an eminent engineer to Malta. He availed him.
self of that opportunity to state that he proposed to take the
discusion on the Navy Estimates, which had been laid on
the table that evening, on next Monday week.
CHARITABLE DONATIONS AND BEQUESTS

(IRELAND).

Mr. HASSARD asked the Attorney. General for Ireland
it was his intention to introduce any measure during this
session for the amendment of the laws relating to charitable
donations and bequests in Ireland ?
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND said
that he had been in communication with the managers of
different foundations in Ireland, and they did not appear
desirous of having more extended powers conferred on
them.
THE EXECUTION OF THE SEVEN PIRATES.
Sir G. BOWYER, asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department whether the Government intended to
take any steps, by application to the Court of Queen's
Bench or otherwise, to prevent the execution of seven men
simultaneously at Newgate
Sir G. GREY said he had received a communication
from the Sheriffs of Middlesex on the subject of having the
executions removed out in different parts instead of all
taking place in London. He had no such power, and with
reference to another question on the paper, he said the Court
of Queen's Bench interfered only in special cases, and there
was no reason in the present instant to depart from the usual
practice.
ALLEGED COMMUNICATION FROM MR. ADAMS
TO EARL RUSSELL.
Lord R. CECIL asked the Under Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs whether he intended to adhere to his state-
ment tat no verbal communication was made by Mr. Adams
to Earl Russell of the substance of the despatch addressed
by Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams on the 11th July, or whether
he desire dto withdraw it.
Mr. LAYARD said he thought the house would agree
with him that this question ought not then to be brought
forward.
.(Hear.) There had been no such communica-
tion to Earl Russell, nor had there been any verbal com-
munication to that effect.
Lord R. CECIL—Was there any verbal communica-
tion intimating the contents of this despatch ?
Mr.LAYARD— Members of this house are understood:to
give answers as gentlemen and not as special pleaders,
(Hear, hear.)

THE PROTOCOL.
Mr. PEA.COCKE asked the First Lord of the Treasury
whether, after the answer of the Under Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs to a question put to him by the hon.
baronet the member for Buckingham, he was prepared
to abide by or to withdraw a statement to the following
effect :—" We proposed that a protocol, which is
equivalent to a treaty, should be signed by representatives
of England, France, Russia, Sweden, and Denmark, and
that by that protocol Denmark should promise to take the
earliest step to revoke that Constitution, asking that time
should be given to her, that England, France,Russia, and
Sweden should give, as it were, a pledge to Austria and
Prussia for the fulfilment of that condition, and that Aus-
tria and Prussia should accept that treaty guarantee instead
of a territorial guarantee ;" and, in the event of his wish-
ing to abide by it, asked him what was the nature of the
guarantee.
Lord PALMERSTON said there was a good deal of
special--(a laugh)—pleading in my matters on cer-
tain subjects. The course the Government had
proposed to pursue was to obtain a diplomatic
engagement signed by Denmark which would
have more security than a mere assertion. By that agree-
ment Denmark was to stipulate that 2 the Rigsdad at its
first meeting should revoke the constitution. The
engagement was to be witnessed by England,
France, and Sweden. The Government of this country
gave no further guarantee than the moral effect of beinc,
witness to the agreement, which tbey considered might a
accepted by Prussia and Austria instead of a territorial
occupation. It was decided, however, that the proposition
was too late.
RUMOURED ARMISTICE.
I Lord R. CECIL then asked the noble lord if he would