The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-03 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

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

PRIVATE BILLS,
The following bills were read a seemd time :—Ponty-
pridd Water, Sudden Bridge and Bury Roads, and Whitby
Water,

The Whitehaven Water Bill was read a third time and
passed. _

HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OP COMMONS.---This Evening,
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The London and Smth Western Railway (Kensington,
&c.) Bill was read a third time and passed.

NON- IN TE RVENTION.
Mr. COBDEN gave notice that he would move a reso-
lution to the effect, that'the policy of non-intervention in
the affairs of foreign countries in tlurope should be adopted
in reference to China.
THE COUNCIL OF EDUCATION.
Sir J. PAKINGTON gave notice of a motion to in-
quire into the whole subject of the appointment and con-
stitution of the inspectors of public schools.
PAYMENT OF RATES AND TAXES BY MILI-
TARY OFFICERS.
Col. NORTH asked whether any decision had been
rived at by the War Department and Treasury as to the
payment of rates and taxes by officers of the army occupe -
lug Government houses in the performance of their duties.
The Marquis of HARTINGTON said that no decision
had been arrived at in respect to this subj-:ct. It was a
question that concerned the Admiralty rather than the
War-cffiee, and at preF.ent the Government were not pre-
pared to take any steps in reference to this matter.
AUSTRIAN SQUADRON IN THE DOWNS.
Mr. D. GRIFFI l'H asked the First Lord of the Trea-
sury whether an Austrian squadron had not arrived in the
Down and other of cur harbours ; and whether the Channel
fleet had not been ordered round to the Downs; end, if so,
whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Government
to allow the Austrian ships of war to proceed to the Baltic
or the North Sea without being accompanied by the Chan-
nel fleet.
Sir G. GREY said that there were three or four Austrian
ships in the Downs, and be believed there were eome
others on the way to this country; but he under-
stood the only orders that had been issued by the
Austrian Government were that they should protect
German commerce in the North Sea. The Channel fleet
was in the Downs, but there had been no instructions given
to the commander, as it was understood the Austrian
equadron would not proceed to the Baltic.
THE SEWAGE OF THE BALTIC.

Lord R. MONTAGU asked the First Commissioner of
Works why the return ordered by the house on 24th July,
1863, on the motion of Mr. Ayrton (viz. No. 67, Sewage
(Metropolis), copy of all advertisements published by the
Metropolitan Board of Works, &c.) had not been presented,
and when it would be laid upon the table and printed.
Mr. COWPER said that this subject did not properly
come within his department, but he was in a position to
state that the return in question was nearly completed
and would be shortly laid on the table.
LEGAL PROCEDURE IN JERSEY.

Mr. PAULL asked the Secretary of State for the Home
Department whether his attention has been drawn to a bill
intitled "a Bill the amend the Constitution, Practice, and
Procedure of the Court of the Island of Jersey," purporting
to deal with the judicial establishments and taxation of the
said island, and to ask whether such bill had been intro=
duced with the concurrence and approval of her Majesty's
Goverment. •

Sir G. GREY said that his attention had been drawn to
this subject in conarquence of the bill that had been laid on
the table by his hon. and learned friend the member
for Southwark. That bill was read a second time,
but he understood that it would not be proceeded
with at present. A similar bill was introduced about
three years ago, and there was no dissent to the measure
on the part of the Government, or he believed any member
of the house.

Mr. BRIGHT said he wished to know if the right hon.
gentleman had expressed any concurrenoe in this bill ont of
the house.

Sir G. GREY said that no communication hal taken
place between him and the hon. and learned member who
introduced the bill, and he had Expressed no opinion on the
subject further than what he had stated in the house.
ALLEGED BUTCHERY OF INDIANS SEEKING
PROTECTION IN BRITISH TERRITORY.
Mr,' HENNESSY asked the Secretary of State for the
Colonies, if it was truephat Major Hatch, commanding the
United States troops in Minnesota, applied in the month of
March last to the Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company
at Red River for permission to pursue and kill within
the British territory, wherever they might be found, a
tribe of Sioux Indians who had fled within the British
boundary for protection ; and if it was true that the Go-
vernor of the HudsOn's Bay Company granted their request,
stipulating only that the Indians should not be butchered
in the houses of any of the settlers with whom they had
sought refuge.
Mr. CARDWELL said that inquiries had been insti-
tuted, from which it appeared that there had been much
exaggeration on this subject. Steps had been adopted to
prevent the murder of innocent women and children.
PUNISHMENT OF DEATH.

Mr. EWART moved for a select committee to inquire
into the expediency of maintaining the punishment of death.
The hon. member, at some length, urged the usual argu-
ments in favour of the abolition of capital punishment, and
referred to those countries where it had been abolished
to show that the remission of capital punishment had not
been followed by any increase in the crime of murder. He
went in detail into statistics, and cited the authority of several
learned judges in support of his views, and denounced the
punishment of death as a failure in deterring from the com-
mission of murder, and opposed to the growing opinion and
Christian sentiment of the day.
Mr. DENMAN seconded the motion, and contended
that the effect of capital punishment practically was to in-
crease instead of diminish crime. The natural horror which
persons felt in condemning a human being to death led
to an exactitude of evidence being required that in many
cases totally defeated the ends of justice, and in many in-
stances prvented the possibility of conviction, particularly
where females were concerned. He was able to bear
personal testimony to that fact from having been profes-
sionally engaged in the trial of persons in•
dieted for murder. This subject had not been brought
before the house since 1856, and as there was a great
deficiency in regard to digested data and information
in reference to it, mach benefit. would necessarily result
from the inquiries of a select committee. He impressed on
the house the fact that in no case where capital punish.
meat had been abolished abroad had it been reimposed.
[LEFT SPEAKING.]

HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening.

CUSTOMS AND INLAND REVENUE BILL.

Oa the consideration of this bill, as amended, there was
some discussion,

Oh clauso 12;

Mr. MALINS moved an amendment to the effect that
policies of insurance should be exempted from the payment
of the ad volorem duty ; and the house divided.
For the amendment
Against
Majority —37

The clause was then agreed to.
Mr. J. B. SMITH moved that the duties on sugar should
be continued in force for one year only. He contended that
the qhancellor of the Exchequer was endeavouring to re-
verso the free-trade policy that Esrliament had eanctiohed

after so severe a struggle, and to prefer the sugar refiner to
the sugar producer.
Mr. LEITHAIII seconded the motion, and Mr. CAVE
opposed, and Mr. LINDSAY and Mr. CRAITFOxiD sup-
ported it.
Mr. CRUM-EWING, as a large producer of sugar, said
he would most consult his own interest if he were to vote
for a uniform duty, but as such a system, if unaccompanied
by the privilege of refining in bond, would have the effect
of raising the price on the consumer, he felt bound to
support the proposition of the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer.
Mr. MOFFATT recommended a return to the former
system of imposing the sugar duty for one year only.
Mr. AYB TO:c condemned the proposal of Mr. Smith
as impracticable, as swell as unfair to the producers and re
fivers of sugar.
The discussion vas continued by Mr. BATHURST and

Mr. BUCTIANAN.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER held that
the question at issue was not one between the refiner and
the consumer of sugar. True, the refiner said he could no!
compete if there were a uniform rate of duty ; but, so far
from asking for protection, he c nnplained bitterly of the ad
vales ens scale now proposed, and that the between re-
fined and unrefined sugars was t o small to enable him to
compete with the foreigner; but he did not ask for protec-
tion. All he appeared to want was equality. As to the
insinuation that he (Air. Gl:Aztone) had become an apos-
tate to the principle of free trade, he repudiated it with
indignation; and contended that, if the house were to
agree to the motion of his hon. friend the member for Stock-
port, its effect would, in leed, be to reverse that enlightened
and progressive policy.
On a division the motion was negatived by 97 to 14.
The report was agreed to, and the bill ordered for third
reading to-morrow. •
On the order for going into committee of supply,
Mr. F. PEEL stated, in reply to Mr. Cos, that 50 acres
of land were to be reservtd, under the Inclosure Act of
last session, as a recreation ground in the parish of Chig-
well, Essex.
The house then went into committee of supply on the
navy estimates, and
Mr. W. MARTIN moved to strike out the item of
£1,549 for additional accommodation for spinning ma-
chinery at Chatham; but, after some discussion, the motion
was withdrawn.

THE MALTA DOCK.

Lord C. PAGET said the vote which he had formerly
asked the house to agree to for constructing a first-rate dock
at Malta was £15,900, but he now had to move that the vote
be reduced by the sum of £5,000, In order to explain the
grounds of the reduction now proposed, he would go back
to 1858, in which year it became manifest that the great
harbour of Malta was entirely insufficient to afford the re-
quisite accommodation owing to the increased size of her
Majesty's ships and the extended trade of the port. Pro-
posals were accordingly made that a certain part of the
harbour called the French Creek should be given up to the
navy on certain conditions, one of which was that at the
head of the old harbour a new harbour should be constructed
for mercantile purposes. The head of the harbour was a
very small depth of water, utterly unsuitable for men-of-
war. So stood matters when the first agreement was made
with the Maltese Government. On the 20th May, 2859, it
was provided by an arrangement then come to, that the
merchant vessels should keep possession of the French Creek
until the Government works were completed. In the pro-
gress of the works the Government engineers suggested
that the basin should be deepened from 18 to 30 feet, so that
it might be available for vessels cf war; and also that a
dock should be constructed to open from the basin. The
Maltese Government offered that if the Imperial Govern-
ment would, at their own cost, construct a graving dock
suitable for the largest vessels in the navy—but to which
merchant vessel should also be admitted—then the Maltese
Government would contribute £lO,OOO towards the expense
of that dock. The Admiralty, in December, 1862, ac-
cepted this proposition. There was, therefore, a distinct
agreement between her Majesty's Government and the
Government of Malta, that the former should carry out
the works which he had described before the navy were
allowed to occupy French Creek. Ho believed that no
objection was made to deepening the basin, which was
already being proceeded with. The graving dock had
not yet been commenced. It was true that Admiral
Codrington and Admiral Martin had objected to the site of
this dock, but the fact was that both these officers had pet
schemes of their owe. He believed that a great deal of their
objection to it arose from their belief that: if the pre-
sent dock were made it would prevent another being made
in the French Creek. But that was not so, for the two
docks did not in any way compete. Malta was daily becom-
ing of more importance to the commerce of this country,
and yet there was no dock there for the accommodation of
merchant vessels. He maintain-c 1 that this was a state of
things which should not continue, but then we ought to
contribute towards The formation of a dock in the island of
Malta. And Sir F. Grey and Mr. Whhbread, who had
been sent out to inquire into the matter, came to the conclu-
sion that the site fixed upon for the graving dock now under
consideration was a proper and expedient one. The noble
lord read some correspondence which took place between
the Governor of Malta and the Duke of Newcastle, to show
that the opposition offered to the original agreement by the
four independent councillors of Malta had not been antici-
pated, as nobody expected that any opposition would be
offered to the construction of the dock in the French Creek,
accept that it should not be proceeded with until the Go-
vernment had completed their engagement at the Mersa.
He had read the correspondence also to show that her Ma.
jesty's Government, before engaging in this work, stated
that they would proceed with it, provided Parliament would
grant the necessary funds. Last year he brought the ques-
tion before the committee, and the committee granted the
funds; the basin was accordingly proceeded with, but the
dock was delayed in consequence of some vexatious oppo•
sition on the part of certain subordinate officials at
Malta. He believed that this work would be of great
national importance to this country, of great import-
ance to Malta and to the commerce of the
Mediterranean, and, above all, that this country
was under an obligation to the Maltese Government to
proceed with it. He had taken upon himself the re-
sponsibility of asking her Majesty's Government to defer
the question, as he thought it right to refer this matter
to the select committee who were considering the entire
question of dock accommodation at home and abroad, He

trusted that hon. members opposite, however desirous they
might be to criticise the actions of the Government, would
do nothing in this case which *AIM savour of breaking
faith with the Maltese Government.
Captain TALBOT, in rising to move the rejection of the
vote, observed that the speech of the noble lord showed that

the pains and trouble he had bestowed upon- this question
had not been thrown way. The hon. and gallant gentle-
man then referred to a lithographed plan of the two sites
and stated that the relative expense to be borne by the Im-
perial Government and the Maltese Government for the
construction of the works, expressing his opinion that the
estimated sums would be insufficient for the purpose. Ho
complained that the opinion of the two admirals on the
station—Admiral Martin and:Admiral Codrington—had not
been taken on the subject ; and while he contended that in-
creased dock accommodation was necessary for our navy in
the Mediterranean, having regard to what had been accom-
plished by the French, he • pointed out that the proposed
dock at Malta was objectionable, first, because of its distance
—nearly two miles—from the dockyards ; secondly, because
of the difficulty Of its approach; and thirdly, because of the
necessity which its formation would entail of building sup-
plemental workshops. He then noticed the position of
parties in the council at Malta, where 14 of the 18 members
were bound to the policy of the Government ; and having
defended Admiral Codrington Irene the imputations made
upon him, concluded by txpressing a decided opinion that if
a dock were to be constructed at Malta that dock should be
at the French Creek.

Mi. WHITBREAD said great difference of opinion
prevailed with respect to the construction of this dock,
and that the views of Mr. Maclean were controverted by
other engineers. He denied that the governor had cajoled
the ♦dtniralty into the adoption of this dock. It had
been suggested solely by Admiralty engineers. The only
question with the Admiralty was the possiLle site, and he
asserted that, if they intended to maintain their agreement,
there was no other site that could be adopted than that at
Mersa. He believed the opposition of the two gallant
admirals at Malta arose from a total misapprehension of
the matter, they thinking it possible fur the Admiralty to
go on with the dock in French Creek, which was not the
case. The arrangement with the colony was that the dock
at Mersa was to be completed before any works were com-
menced on the shores of French Creek. The original esti-
mate, both as to cost and to time, he believed to be perfectly
sound.

Sir J. PAKINGTON supported the amendment. He
said that faith with the Maltese only pledged us to the
deepening of the Marsa and of the north• west basin. No
time, ought to be loit in commencing a dock in the French
Creek. What did the Admiralty now intend to do ?
Lord C. PAGET said he was prepared to refer the matter
to a select committee. The £10,900 would be applied to the
completion of the deepening of the basin..
After 801110 further discussion aad a few words in reply
from Capt. Talbot, the motion of the noble lord for redu-
cing the vote by £5,000 was carried.
The committee divided then on the amendment of Capt.
Talbot for the rejection of the vote. The numbers were—

For the amendment.. 93
Against it .......................... 111
Majority ..................
The vote was then agreed to, and the house resumed.
PENAL SERVITUDE ACTS AMENDMENT BILL,
This bill was read a third time and passed.
CIVIL BILL COURTS (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
PROMISSORY NOTES AND BILLS OF EX-
CHANGE (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill went through dommittee.
RIVERS POLLUTION (SCOTLAND).
The LORD ADVOCATE obtained leave to bring in a
bill to prevent the discharge of impure water into the rivers
in Scotland from manufactories, and it was subsequently
read a first time.
THE ADMIRALTY LAND AND WORKS BILL.
The bill was read a first time, and the house adjourned at
20 minutes pest 1 o'clock. •

LONDON GAZETTE—This Evening.

LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S-OFFICE, MAY 3.
Notice is hereby given, that the State Apartments of
Windsor Castle will be closed on and after Saturday next,
the 7th instant, until further orders.
WAR OFFICE, PALL MALL, MAY 3.
17th Lancers—Cornet William Watt, from Ist Dragoons,
to be Cornet, vice William Rose Wynter, transferred to
7th Hussars.
Royal Artillery—The Brevet rank of Lieut.-Colonel E. B.
Hamley is Colonel, not Lieutenant-Colonel, as stated in
Gazette of 19th ult.—Second Captain Frederick Thomas
'Whinyates to be Captain, vice Brevet Lieut.-Colonel
William George Le Mesurier' C. 8., deceased—Lieut.
James Charles Cavendish to be Second Captain, vice
Whinyates—Lieut. Robert Sandham to be Second Cap-
tain, vice Oswald Carr, placed upon temporary half-pay
—Gentleman Cadet Richard Francis Williams to be
Lieutenant, vice Cavendish—Gentleman Cadet Edmund
Witham Cripps to be Lieutenant, vice Sandhatn.
Royal Engineers—Gentleman Cadet Richard Calrow to
be Lieutenant, with temporary rank, vice Gifford, de-
ceased.
Ist Regiment of Foot—Ensign Luke Norman to be Lieu-
tenant, by purchase, vice Percv Bingham Sehrteber,
who retiree—Bertram Eustrace Mittord, Gent,, to be
Ensign, by purchase,
vice Norman.
2d Foot—leieurenant Henry Waring to be Captain, by pur-
chase, yi,n George ea Francis Horwood, who retires—
Easian Williem aleckie to be Lieutenant, by purchase,
vice Waring—Nicholas Win tarn Tindal 13esaequet,
Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Meckie.
6th Foot—Lieutenant James George Cockburn to be Cap-
tain, by purchase, vice James Henry Patricksen, who
retires—Ensign William Harrison Falcon to be
Johnsen to be Captain, by
by purchase, vice Falcon.
Lieu-
tenant, by purchase, vice Cockburn—Frederick Leigh
10tGunlerd31,
purchase, vice the Hon. Charles C. Chetwynd, who
Gent.,
Foot—Lieutenantt obe
Richardsign,
re-
tires—Ensign Edmund James Young Armstrong to be
Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Johnson—Henry Charles
Hinxman, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Arm-
strong.
11th Foot—Assistant-Surgeon Robert Thomas Scott, from
the 73d Foot, to be Assistant-Surgeon, vice Francis H.
Macfadin, who exchanges.
12th Foot—Quartermaster Thomas Huddlestone to be Pay..
master, vice J. Parr Kingsmill.
24th Foot—LicutenantWalter Bernardino Logan to be Cap-
tain, without purchase, vine Henry Macdonald Burns,
deceased—Ensign Thomas Carroll Dempster to be Lieu-
tenant, without purchase, vice Logan—Ensign Allred
James Godfrey to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice
Charles William Story, who retires—John Beresfurd
Hammond, Gent, to be Ensign, by purchase, vice God-
frey—Frederick Carrington, Gent., to be Ensign, by
purchase, vice John Hastings Otway, who retires.
28th Foot—Lieutenant Thomas Horniblow to be Inspector
of Musketry, vice Lieutenant R. B. Singer, who has re-
signed the appointment.
37th Foot—Lieutenant S. Lavalliere Curgenven to be Cap-
tain, by purchase, vice William Henry Parry, who re-
tires—Ensign John De Rune Dick to be Lieutenant, by
purchase, vice Curgenven—Charles Stewart Hardy,
Gent., to be Ensign by purchase, vice Dick.
40th Foot—William Henry Browne, Gent., to be Ensign,
without purchase, vice George Franklin, transferred to
the 93th Foot.
531 Foot—Lieutenant Richard Annesley Eyre to be Cap-
tain, without purchase, vice William F. Adams Colman,
promoted—Ensign William Ainsworth to be Lieutenant,
without purchase, vice Eyre.
64th Foot—Lieutenant Charles Henry Laprimandaye to be
Captain, by purchase, vice Standish de Courcy O'Grady,
who retires—Ensign John Woulfe Keogh to be Lieu-
tenant, by purchase, vice Laprimandaye—Charles Stevens
Ward, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Keogh.
73d Foot—Assistant•Surebeon Francis Henry Mactadine
from 11th Foot, to be Assistant-Surgeon, vice Robert
Thomas Scott, who exchanges.
84th Foot—Ensign George Edward Montagu to be Lieu-
tenant, without purchase, vice Henry Shelve Jones,
deceased.
91st Foot—Ensign William Darling Caudwell to be Lieu-
tenaut, without purchase, vice Robert Powell Jones,
deceased—Ensign James Thomas Rogers to be Lieu-
tenant, by purchase, vice William Darling Caudwell,
whose promotion, by purchase, on sth April, 1864, has
been cancelled—Ensign George Upperton, from 3d
Foot, to be Ensign, vice Rogers--Staff Surgeon Major
John Summers, M.D., to be Surgeon, vice Surgeon.
Major Miah William Murphy, appointed to the Staff.
98th Moot—Lieut. Ernest Wolseley De Lousada, from the
Bengal Staff Corps, to be Lieutenant, vice Thomas R.
Devereux Bingham, who exchanges.
4th West India Regiment—Lieut. John Atkinson has been
permitted to retire from the service by the sale of his
Commission.
DEPOT BATTALTON.—Captain Richard C. H. Germon, 9th
Foot, to be Instructor of Musketry, vice Captain Charles
Caldwell Grantham, 9th Foot, whose term of service in
that capacity has expired.
STAFF.—Colonel Gloucester Gambier, C. 8., to be Deputy-
Adjutant of the Royal Artillery, vice Colonel Charles
_ Bingham, deceased.

MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.—Surgeon-Major Miah William
Murphy, from the 91st Foot, to be Staff Surgeon-Major,
vice John Summus, M,D., appointed to 91st Foot.

BREVET.
Paymaster, with the honorary rank of Captain, William
Fortescue Scott, 20th Foot, to have the honorary rank of
Major.

Assistant-Surgeon Thomas Lowe, Madras Medical Es-
,ablishment, to be Surgeon.

MEMORANDA.
Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to approve of
the 91st Foot resuming the appellation of the 91st Argyl-
shire Highlanders, and being clothed and Equipped as 4
non-kilted Highland corps, as follows :
Tunic—as worn in all Highland Regiments.
Trews—of the Campbell Tartan.

Chaco—Blue cloth, with diced band and black braid.
Forage Cap—Kilmarnock, with diced band.
The Officers to wear plaids and claymores.
The alteration of the dress is to take place from Ist April,
1866.

The white waistcoat with sleeves, issued to other High•
land Regiments, will not be worn by the 91st Foot.

Lieut.-Col. Francis Beckford Ward, half-pay late Roya
Artillery, has been permitted to retire from the service by
the sale of his commission, under the conditions of the
Horse Guards Circular Memorandum of Feb. 15, 1861.