The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-31 00:00:00

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bids were read a second time :--Dundee
Churches and Hospital, Garstang and Knot End Railway,
Sunningdale and Cambridge Town Railway, North British
Railway (Perth Branch).
The following bills were read a third time and passed :
Erich Tramway, Chichester and Midhurst Railway, and
Chelmsford and Hernston Lane Head Road.

EAST AND WEST JUNCTION RAILWAY, AND
BLOCK LEY AND BANBURY RAILWAY BILLS,
Lord CHELMSFORD moved the re-committal of these
bills, on the ground of the exclusion of certain evidence and
undue curtailment of the right of counsel to cross-examine
witnesses before the select committee,to which the bills were
referred.

Lord STRADBROKE, chairman of the committee in
question, entered into a detailed explanation of the circum-
stances relative to the two bills, and defended the course the
committee had pursued. Not taking evidence and not per-
mitting to cross-examine by counsel, formed no part of the
case of those who were now complaining of the conduct of
the committee.

(LEFT SPEAKING.)

ROUSE OP COMMONS.---This Evening.

The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The Scottish Central Railway (Dundee and Newtyle
Extension) Bill was read a third time and passed.
PERU.

Mr. WEGUELIN asked the Under Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs whether her Majesty's Government
had received despatches relative to the seizure of the Chin-
cha Islands, belonging to Peru, by a Spanish naval squad-
ron; whether it was the opinion of her Majesty's
Government that the occupation in time of peace of the
territory of a friendly nation, without cause or declara-
tion of war, and the forcible detention of individuals of that
nation to serve as hostages, was consistent with the usages
of civilised nations, or the dicta of international law; whe-
ther her Majesty's Government were prepared to admit the
claim put forth by the Spanish Admiral and the Spanish
Commissary of the right on the part of the Spanish
Crown to revindicate the property of said islands, a
right they assert similar to that which Great Britain sanc-
tioned when she restored the island of Fernando Po,
Azmolon, and Coserco, after a formal and uninterrupted
possession during a considerable number of years : and,
whether her Majesty's Government will interpose their
good offices to bring about a settlement of the trifling matter
of dispute which has led to these high-handed proceedings
on the part of the Spanish officials ?
Mr. LAYARD said that he was sorry to say he could
not give satiataotory information on this matter. On
Saturday last her Majesty's Government received dispatches
from the British representative at Peru, from which it ap-
peared that the seizure alluded to was in consequence of
certain claims not having been acceded to.
THE STEAM RAMS.
Mr. HODGKINSON asked the Secretary of the Admi •
ralty, whether it was intended that the price to be paid for
the Confederate rams shall be the subject of a supplemental
vote, or whether it will be paid ont ut money already voted
for some other purpose ?
Lord C. PAGET said it would be his duty to bring on
a supplemental estimate in reference to this subject.
MR. HERBERT'S PICTURE.

Mr COX asked the First Commissioner of Works whether
he could make any arrangements by which the public may
have the opportunity of viewing Mr Herbert's picture in
the peers' robing room.
Mr COWPER, answered in the affirmative.
'CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA.

Mr BAXTER asked the hon member ior Sunderland if
he intended to bring on his motion with reference to the
Confederate States of America on Friday ?
Mr LINDSAY said that he would postpone his motion
to the 17,h of next mtnth for political considerations.