The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-02 00:00:00

OFFICERS IN THE INDIAN ARMY.

Capt. JERVIS and Col. SYKES asked a Belies of ques-
tions as to the substantive rank, promotion, &c., of Indian
officers.

Sir C. WOOD said that he had no objection to lay on
the table any return relative to this subject; but he did
not know exactly what papers were meant. He entered
into a lengthened explanation to show that no injustice
would be done to Indian officers in reference to promotion
and rank.

WINDS AND CURRENTS IN THE MID
ATLANTIC.

Sir J. ELPHINSTONE asked the Secretary to the Ad-
miralty whether the opinion of Vice Admiral Fitzroy, Pre-
sident of the Meteorological Department of the Board
of Trade, had been taken as to the winds and
currents which prevail in the mid Atlantic in the months
of July, August, and September; and, if so, whether
he would lay that opinion upon the table of the house;
and, whether the Lords Commissioners of the Admi-
ralty were aware that the facts set forth in Captain
Maury's Trade Wind Chart for the month of August were
in every respect opposed to the information given to the
house by the noble lord the Secretary to the Admiralty, on
the authority of the hydrographer of the navy ?
Lord C. PAGET said that the recommendations of Cap-
tain Maury were in perfect accordance with those of the
Government hydrographer. The Government would be
happy to lay on the table any papers on the subject, but he
declined to produced the report of Admiral Fitzroy, as the
Government were quite satisfied with the report of their
official hydrographer.
PENAL SERVITUDE ACTS BILL.

The Lords' amendments to this bill were brought up and
read, and some were agreed to.
THE DANO-GERMANIC QUESTION.

Lord BTJRGHLEY asked the First Lord of the Trea-
sury whether he could explain the statement which appeared
in the Times of Tuesday, the 28th of June, to the
effect that the President of the Council of the Lower House
of Etigsraad, in answer to a question upon the Conference,
made the following reply : " The Danish Plenipotentiaries
ware instructed to accept the line of demarcation of
the Schlei, and to agree to a fortnight's prolongation
of the armistice, should England firmly adhere to
that line. Earl Russ.cll promised that neither would
he make a proposal himself, nor support the proposal of
any other plenipotentiary, which would be less favourable
to Denmark, unless Denmark herself should consent to
such new proposals. Earl Russell nevertheless proposed,
in the sitting of the Conference on the 18th, that the ques-
tion should be submitted to arbitration, although Denmark
did not consent to this proposal."

Sir G, GREY said that as his noble friend the First Lord
of the Treasury was absent, he trusted the question would
not be pressed at present, but that it would be put on the
order for going into Committee of Supply at a later period
of the evening.

TERRITORIES OF THE HUDSON BAY
COMPANY.

On the motion for going into committee of supply,

Mr A. MILLS called attention to the present condition
of the territories claimed by the Hudson's Bay Company ;
and moved an address for copies of all correspondence
which has taken place between the Imperial and Cana-
dian Governments respecting the western boundaries of
Canada, and of any memorials forwarded to the Colonial
Office from the inhabitants of the Red River Settlement.
Having drawn attention to the vast extent of the territory
in question and to some of the territorial points in reference
to it, he contended that it should be annexed to Canada, so
t a to make a great colonial chain of British territory.
Mr WATKINS expressed his strong disapprobation
of the policy of allowing this vast territory to be held by a
mere trading fur company. He said that unless Government
took active steps in regard to this territory it would
dwindle into a mere America settlement; but if the British
flag were hoisted over it, it would become one of the moat
flourishing of British colonies.
_ _ _

Mr CARDWELL said that ho would offer no objection
to the production of the papers moved for. The subject had
been referred to a committee in 1857, which recommended
that the offer of the annexation of the territory to Canada
provided that colony were willing to incur the expense of
purchasing it. He explained the difficulty of dealing with
chartered interests that existed for 200 years, and said that
Government would be only too happy to promote the
interests of the territory and the colony.
After some remarks from Mr LYALL on the colony of
Canada, the motion was withdrawn.

LUNATIC ASYLUMS (IRELAND).
Mr BLAKE called the attention of the Chief Secre.
tary for Ireland to the necessity which existed for
wending the laws relating to the administration of lunatic
asylums in Ireland, and for making better provision for the
care of imbeciles confined in union workhouses; and in-
quired whether he would introduce a bill next session to
remedy the defects complained of.

Sir R. PEEL said he did not think there was any need
of further legislation, and replied to various points raised
by Mr Blake, observing that the subject had not failed to
attract the attention of the Irish Government.