The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-16 00:00:00

THE SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN QUESTION.

Mr. KINGLAKE gave notice that he would move as
an amendment to the motion of which the hon. member for
Liekeard had given notice on this subject, to the effect that
the treaty in regard to that matter had not been carried
out, and that the First Lord of the Treasury had, in the
statement he had made on this subject, gone further than
the circumstances of the case warranted.
PENAL SERVITUDE (IRELAND.)
Mr. MAGUIRE asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department whether he was aware of the fact that
the operation of one of the provisions of the Penal Servitude
Bill would be to abolish the refuges for female convicts in
Ireland ; and, if so, whether the Irish Government had
been conlulted upon the matter, and had approved or other-
wise of the abolition of said probationary institutions ?
Sir G. GREY said there was no intention to make
any alteration in the system in operation in Ireland, which
worked very advantageously.
NEW MUSEUMS AT SOUTH KENSINGTON.
Sir S. NORTHUOTE asked the First Commissioner or
Works what number of plans had been sent in for the pro-
posed New Museums at South Kensington ; where, and
when, he intends to exhibit them; and who are to be the
judges to decide upon them.
Mr. COWPER, in reply to this and some other:ques-
tions, said that there had been no decision come to as to
the actual use to which the building should be appro-
priated, and the subject could be brought forward by any
hon. member.
THE ARMSTRONG GUNS.
Mr, BERKELEY—As the Armstrong breech•loading
guns, constructed by Sir William Armstrong, and now
under trial at Shoeburyness, are made chiefly of solid
blocks of mild steel (tempered in oil), and consequently
totally differen.; from the service guns which they
are con-
sidered to represent, asked the Under Secretary of State for
War whether it was the intention of the War cillee to in-

stituto any and what trial of the Armstrong guns as at pre-
sent employed in her Majesty's service, it being evident,
from Admiral Kuper's report, that some trial 1, urgently
needed.

The Marquis of HARTINGTON said that, when he
proceeded with the army estimates he wo ild be in a position
to make a full explanation on the subject. He might, how-
ever, then state that there was very little difference between
the guns on trial at Shoeburyness and those which have
been in use in the service, but they were undergoing a
practical trial.
LABOURERS AND PUBLIC DOCKYARDS.

Sir A. BULLER asked the Secretary to the Admiralty
whether the Government intend doing anything towards
the relief of the labourers in the several public dockyards,
who are at present paid at a rate considerably below the
ordinary market value of labour.
Lord C. PAGET said that it was not proposed to make
any alterations in reference to this subject. By the prac-
tice in operation in the public dockyards shipwrights em-
ployed there could earn very good wages, and the labourers
could participate in their benefits.
SECRETARIES OF STATE, &c.

Mr DISRAELI drew the attention of the house to the
fact that the offices of Principal Secretaries of State and
Under Secretaries of State had been given to no less
thaa five sitting members of the house, in contravention
of the provisions of the existing statute which limited the
number to four. This was a constitutional question in re-
spect to which he wished for some information.
Lord PALMERSON said that the distribution of the
officers referred to was at present the same as it had been
for some time, and the question was too important to be
discussed off-hand. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. DISRAELI wished to be informed by the Speaker,
whether this question was not ono of privilege, and
whether as such, it could not be brought on at any time.:
The question of the right hon. member elicited no
reply, and the subject dropped.