The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-17 00:00:00

conduct of lir. Christie, and denied that the address,
which had been presented to him, represented the wealth,
intelligence, or majority of the British merchants resident
at Rio. He repeated his belief that the crew of thu Princ.
of Wales had never been murdered, inasmuch as, frt'm the•
nature of the coast, it was tmpossibla from them to have
reached the shore alive, and condemned the mode in which
the reprisals had been made.

The subject then dropped.
THE LICENSING SYST M

Mr. LAW SON moved th- following resolution That,
in the opinion ct this Louse, the laws under which licenses
are granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors ard emi-
nently unsatisfactory and deficient in power to protect the
public, r.nd therefore require immediate alteration "
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER opposed
the motion, on the, ground that no advantage could arise
from discussing the question at this period of the session—
and also upon the ground that it was always objectionable
to pass abstract resoltLions.
Mr. NEWDEGATE said that from his experience as a
magistrate, he could state that there was no question up,n
weich there was a greater ccncurrence of opinion, that the
licensing system should be revised. With respect to the.
reduction said to nave taken place in the consumption of
spit ituous liquors he feared it was more owing to the dis-
ci ess prevailing in the manutacturiug districts than to any
increase in habits of temperance amongst the working
classes.

Lord FE EtMOY thought the hon. gentleman who pro.
posed the resolution deserved credit for his good intentions,
but that he was going the wrong way to carry them out
He (Lord F. rinoy) was for free trade upon the general
principle, but not in licenses. It was a mistake to suppose
that publi,ans as a body were in favour of drunkenness
Drunkards were the great cause of their prosecutions and
penalties, and working men only resorted to public-houses
because they had no sources of popular recreation such as
were provided by f“reign governments. That was the
main reason why there was more intemperance in England
than abroad.

Mr. W. E. FORSIER hoped the hon. gentleman would
not press the resolution, because he should h.ve to vote for
11,, whereas he thought it was a matter which the Govern-
ment should take up iu,some comprehensive measure so as
to improve the present highly unsatisfactory system of li-
censing.

Atter a few words from Sir P. O'BRIEN,
The house divided—
For the resolution
Against it
Majority against resomtion
THE NAIIONAL GALLERY

Mr. C. BEN TIN CK called attention to a recent purchase
for 600 guineas by the trustees of the National Gallery, and
asked the First Lord of toe Treasury whether it was not
desirable to discontinue the practice of acquiring at a high
price pictures which were not authentic works of the mas-
ters to whom the) were attributed, and which were in a
damaged condition.
Mr. PEEL defended the purchase, and stated that there
could be no doubt the picture was painted by Bellini.

Mr. CONINGHAM condemned the purchase, and aleo
the mode in which all such transactions were managed on
the part of the National Gallery.

The subject then dropped, and the house went into corn-
wit tee of supply pro forma.
The Fortifications (Provisions for Expenses) Bill was
read a third time and passed.
The Union Relief Aid Acts Continuance Bill was consi-
dered as amenaed, and agreed to.
The Nuisances Removal Act (1855) Amendment Bill
was read a third time and passed.
Several bills were advanced a stage, and the house ad
journed.