The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-26 00:00:00

STANDING ORDERS.

Oa the return it the Speaker and the members by whom
he was accompanied, the discussion was resumed.

Mr PAULL said that he could not, consistently with
what he considered was due to the interests of the public,
consent to a reduction of the existing numtvr of the mem-
bers of committees on private bills.
Mr M. GIBSON objected to the alteration on practical
grounds, as it would give what he considered an undue
influence to the chairman. If they could secure the attend-
ance of three members, the case would be different, and he
thought the number should not be reduced below four.

After some further discussion the House divided, and
the numbers were—
For the reduction
Against it
Majority —7
Lord R. CECIL then moved that the committee should
consist of four.

Mr. M. GIBSON supported the amendment.
The house divided on the technical motion that the
committee should be composed of five.
For the motion. .............
Against it ..................
Majority........ —32
Colonel W. PATTEN then moved that the number
should be reduced to four, upon Which the house again
divided.

For the reduction to four..,, • 98
Against 5O
Majority
After some desultory conwrsation, in the course of which
Lord R, CECIL expressed a hope that the question as to
giving the chairman of committees two votes should be
postponed,
evening
The debate was then adjourned until to-morrow at the

ARTIFICERS IN- THE DOCKYARD.
Mr FERRAND gave notice that he would, to-morrow,
ask a question relative to the subject of the amcunt of re•
mum:ration of artificers employed in the Dockyards.
WEIGHTS AND xmAsußEs.
Exchequer standards of weight and measure
h
Mr DOULTON asked the Secretary to the Treasury
adjusted and reverified, in pursuance of an
the Secretary of State for the Home
Department on the 29th July, 1862, to the effect "that
measures had already been taken for the accomplishment
of that object.:" whether the standards recently taken out
whetherassurance
been
given
of the wall of Parliament have been compared with those at
the Exchequer; and, if so, whether any and what discre-
pancy was found to exist.

fiGsabled
Mr CR..A.IVFORD asked the SeeLreotradrsyctoomthmeisAsidomneirraelttyo
GREENWICH HOSPITAL.
r°efentill:ieh Hospital for the re-
ceptionaeamen of the merchant
rthet°Crown had been given
DEDUCTIONS BY TIIR
aspepr whethervr
ojeporio:if
tt
el i
,w.
anyo ar sa theou tintention
portionaaa o d
the Treasury whether
i TREASURY.
on the construction of the act 19 and 20 Vic. c. 69, s. 16, re-
specting the l‘ ler pli ifi o IV oEfSthaesklaedvititTaSeeercareoT
specting certain deductions made by the Treasury trom the
Government contribution of one-fourth part of the charge
for the pay and clothing of tho police in counties and
boroughs, and whether he would state the effect of such
opinion ?
Mr PEEL said that the law advisers of the Crown were
of opinion that such deduction was lawful.
FOREIGN FASSPOATS.
Mr D. GRIFFITH asked the Under Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs, whether the exemption of British subjects
from the demand for passports in France exempts them also
from their passports being demanded and given over to the
custody of the captain on going on board french passenger
steamers in the Mediterranean and elsewLere.
Mr LAYARD said that he could not give accurate in-
formation on the subject.
__ .
__ •

THE WAR IN AMERIUA.
Mr LINDSAY asked the First Lord
of the Treasury,
if, considering the great sacrifice of lite and property
occasioned by the war still raging between the United
States of America and the Confederate S; etes, and consider-
ing the loss the people of this country -1,
04-e suffered by the
war, it is the intention of her Majesty's Government, in
concert with the other Powers of Eurv, to use their
endeavours to bring about a suspension Whestilities.
Lord PALMERSTON said that he :ould assure his
hon. friend that the subject of the loss of life and property
consequent on the unfortunate hostiliies in America
occupied the attention of the Oovernmeni, but it was not
considered advisable to interfere even bYacting in concert
with other Powers in the internal affairs „r America.
FORTIFICATIONS BIIL.
On the order for reading the Fortifieatiew (Provision for
Expenses) Bill a third time,
Blr OSBORNE drew attention to the (Iterations which
had been made in the original plan for the defences of
Portsmouth,;by the abandonment of the fyrt on the Stour-
bridge shoal commanding. the anchorage at Spithead, on
account of the want of a solid foundation, and the effect of
which would be a considerably increaed expense. He
also indulged in some animadversions 112 on the still de-
fective stato of our ordnance, upon which la the five years
between 1858 and 1863, upwards of two mtlions and a half
bad been expended, yet up to this moment Only 2,370 gnus