The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-15 00:00:00

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
BIRMINGHAM RACES-THIS DAY.
ERDINGTON PLATE.

Telegram
Deception
Arlescott 3
Ten ran.
SUTTON STEEPLECHASE.

Arimaspian ..
Redwing ..
. . .

Five ran, Run 45 minutes behind time.
HUNT CUP.

Jerry
Hermit
Express
Nine ran. The winner objected to.

IMPERIAL P.

HOUSE OF LORDS--This Evening.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.
- -- ---

-- - - - ----
THE SEIZURE OF THE RAMS AT BIRKEN-

HEAD.
Earl RUSSELL said the noble earl opposite, the other
evening, in remarks on the detention of the iron-
clads referred to in several despatches written by
Mr. Adams, wished to know how far the opinions
and conduct of Government had been influenced by those
communications. Ho (Earl Russell) had been looking into
dates since that time, and how the conduct of Government
had been influenced by despatches dated the 4th and sth of
September may lie gathered by the fact that on the 3d
of September he (Earl Russell) came to the de-
terminatiun to delay and prevent the departure
of the iron-clad at Birkenhead. On that day Mr. Laird
wrote to the Treasury on the subject of the detention of the
vessels, and he (Earl Russell) also found that from a pri-
vate letter of his own, written from Scotland that he
had taken the course he had already mentioned. That
being so, it was impossible that the determi-
nation of the Government could in the slightest
may have been influenced by anything Mr. Adams may
have written on the 4th of September. Looking, however,
at the correspondence presented to the Government of the
United States, and more especially that part of it which
he had taken part in, he felt that had the language of Mr.
Adams been less temperate he should not have desisted
from the course he (Earl Russell) had adopted. It having
come to his knowledge that the iron-clads building at Bir-
kenhead were intended for the Confederates, it was his duty
to take steps to detain them, in order to obtain full evidence
as to their destination.
[LEFT SPEASINO•]

HOUSE OF COMMONS—This Evening,
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
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POLAND.
Mr. BUTLER-JOIINSIONE gave notice that on an
early day he would draw* the attention of the house to the
subject of Poland, and that he would make a motion in
reference to the same.
HERRING FISHERIES.
Mr. CAIRD asked the Lord Advocate, or, in his absence,
the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether
it was the intention of Government to alter or repeal the
recent laws on the subject of the herring fishery in Scot-
land, which the Royal Commissioners appointed in 1562 to
inquire into the operation of these laws report to have un-
necessarily restricted the operations of fishermen; to have
repressed invention by prohibiting new and more productive
forms of labour; as calculated to be destructive rather than
conservative in relation to the future supply of herring ;
and, although beneficial to certain class interests, as pro-
judicial to the consumer of fish and to the public gene-
rally ?"
Sir G. GREY said he had communicated with his learned
friend the Lord Advocate, and he hoped shortly to be able
to lay ou the table a bill on the subject.
TOBACCO IN IRELAND.
_ _

In reply to Mr. M'Evov,--.
The UHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
there was no special exclusion of any part of the United
Kingdom for the growth of tobacco, but it extended to all
parts of the kingdom, and the reason was, that it would be
impossible to levy a tax on home grown tobacco that would
suit the purpose of revenue in the same way that a tax on
imported tobacco would do• As far as ho was concerned he
should be happy )t tobacco and other articles of import

could be produced at home, but it could not be pra 3tically
carried out as regards revenue.
RAILWAYS IN DUBLIN.
➢lr. VANCE asked the President of the Board of Trade,
if he would consent for an appointment of a preliminary
select committee, composed of members of both Houses of
Parliament, to consider and report upon the various rail-
way schemes affecting the city of Dublin, such committee
to be nominated in the same manner as that which has
been recently appointed to consider and report upon the
different railway projects affecting the metropolis ?
Mr. M. GIBSON said that it was not intended by Go-
vernment to appoint any such committee.

ALLOWANCES TO GOVERNORS OF COLONIES.
Mr. HOPWOOD asked the Under Secretary of State for
the Colonies when the Government intend to bring forward
the subject of granting retiring allowances to governors of
colonies?

Mr. C. FORTESCUE said it was not intended by tht
Government to bring forward the subject.
PROTECTION OF THEMETROPOLIS FROM

FIRE.

Sir M. FARQUHAR asked the Secretary of State for
Home Department whether he intended to introduce a bill
this year for the better protection of the metropolis from fire;
and, if so, whenpe wou d I.y it upon the table of the house ?

Sir G. GREY said that he was in communication with
the managers of different insurance companies, and he be-
liev3el that a satisfactory arrangement would be effected.

IM PROVE NIENTS IN ORDNANCE.

Mr. W. EW-A.RT asked the Under Secretary of State
for War whether any British officer, or officers, had been
sent to study and report upon the recent applications of and
improvements in artillery adopted in the war in the United
States and in Denmark?
The Marquis of HAR.TINGTON said that Lord Lyons
had received instructions to report to the Government on
the subject as regarded the United States, but his reports
were not of a character sufficiently detailed to meet the re-
quirements, and three officers had been sent to the United.
States to report fully on the subject. It had not been con-
sidered necessary to send out a commission to Denmark on
the subject since the outbreak of hostilities in that country.
EXTENSION OF THE COUNTY FRANCHISE.
Mr. A. SMITH gave notice that on the introduction of
the proposed bill for the extension of the county franchise
he would move an amendment. _ _

THE COURT-MARTIAL ON COL. CRAWLEY.
Lord HOTHAM inquired from what fund the expenses
of the late court martial at Aldershot were to be paid,
whether the house would be asked to grant money for that
purpose ; and, if so, when such grant would be proposed?
The Marquis of MARTINGTON said it would not be
necessary to lay any particular itims in reference to that
court-martial on the table, but they would be spread over
different votes that would be submitted to the house.
COLONIAL REFORM. _ _

Sir G. BOWYER asked the Under Secretary of State
for the' colonies whether her Majesty's Government had
received au important petition from Malta, asking for re•
form in the Colonial Government?

Mr. C. FORTE CUE said that the document in
question had been only just received, and it would meet
the careful consideration of the Government.

THE ALLEGED ARMISTICE.

Mr. DISRAELI asked if the armistice which he under.
stood from the first Lord of the Treasury on Friday last had
been proposed by the Government had been accepted by the
contending powers.
Mr. LAYARD said that an answer had been received
by her Majesty's Government, from which it appeared the;
the proposal was not likely to be accepted.

INSANE PRISONERS ACT AMENDMENT BILL,
Sir G. GREY moved the second reading of this bill.
Mr. HARDY, in objecting to the provisions of the bill,
intered into the circumstances connected with the case of
the convict Townley, which he said would not be met with
LLEFT SITTING.]