The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-22 00:00:00

CAPTAIN MELVILLE WHITE.

In reply to Colonel FaExcn,
Mr. LAYAItD said that despatches had been received
from her Majesty's Chargé de Affsires at Hamburgh, to
the effect that the award had been made, but that it was
unfavourable to Captain White.

CHINA.
Mr. LIDDELL moved that, in the opinion of this house
further interference on the part of this country in the civi-
war in China is impolitic and unnecessary. The hon.
gentleman condemned the course adopted by this country
in regard to China by our interference in the military ope-
rations in that country, the object of which, he contended,
was to introduce British supremacy there,
(LEFT SPEAKING.)

HOUSE ,OF LORDS—Last Evening,
STANDING ORDERS.

Lord REDESDALE moved the usual sessional order
that no private bill brought from the House of Commons
be read a second time after the 30th of June.—Agreed to.
LAND MORTGAGE BANK OF INDIA BILL.
This bill was road a second time.
JOINT STOCK COMPANIES (FOREIGN
COUNTRIES) BILL,
This bill was read a second time.
IMPROVEMENT OF LAND ACTS (1844) BILL.
The LORD CHANCELLOR named the committee to
which this bill has been referred,

UNION RELIEF AID ACTS CONTINUANCE

BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.

LAND DRAINAGE (PROVISIONAL ORDERS)

BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.

THE CONFERENCE.

The Earl of CARNARVON, before their lordships ad.
journed, wished to ask the Foreign Secretary a question of
some importance relative to the conference. Their lordships
were aware that the meeting of the conference had been fixed
for yesterday, and their lordships were aware that the re-
presentatives of the minor German states, and of Austria
and Prussia, failed to attend, and consequently one day was
lost; and a day was of much moment at a time like the
present. The conference, he understood, had been post-
poned until next Monday; and their lordships would re-
member that this was not the first postponement. The con-
ference was originally to have been held on the 11th, but it
was postponed until the 20th, and now it was again post-
poned until Monday. It was most distinctly understood
that one of the first steps of the conference would be to order
an armistice, and that a suspension of hostilities would take
place; but he was sorry to say that there were reasons
which, it was very easy to understand, might induce the
Austrian, and especially the Prussian Government, to de-
sire to see delay in the armistice being carried into effect.
This was a matter which ought not to be lost sight of. The
question which he wished to put was whether, in the event
of any further postponement of the conference, any steps
would be takon to secure at once such an armistice as would
cause a suspension of hostilities, and to avoid an indefinite
postponement of the conference accompanied with a con.
tinuation of hostilities in Denmark. Ho had seen it stated
in the newspapers that there was an intention on the part
of the Prussian Government to forward their troops into
Jutland. He had also seen it stated—he hoped not on good
authority, but it had appeared in some of the German
papers—that there was au intention, by means of the occu-
pation of Jutland, to make Denmark pay the expenses of
the war. Under these circumstances ho wished to put his
question as to the probability of there being an armistice.

Earl RUSSELL, who was very indistinctly heard, was
understood to say—With regari to the meeting of the con-
ference I have to state that the German Confederation,
having al pointed Baron Von Bengt as their representative,
and he holding the offices of President of the Council,
Home Minister, and Foreign Minister of Saxony. it would
be: ecessary for him to make arrangements with respect to
the duties of those offices during his absence ;
Pheerefeer,::irl‘d z got, therefore, be in London until Monday next.
The plenipm,'ntiaries attended yesterday and found that the
representatives .
of Austria and Prussia had received strict
instructions not to .
attend the conference until the repre-
sentative of the Diet w:9 in attendance. Under these cir-
cumstances I must decline to enter into the question which
the noble earl has put. (Hee,... hear.) I must say further
that when the conference meets, which I trust will be on
Monday next, they will take the rhole matter into their
serious consideration.
MTh() Earl of MALMESBURY—I am qu:te sure that it
is best to treat the matter with all discretion un,ler the cir-
cumstances about to take place—l say about to take place,
because the conference nowstands adjourned. I thln that
the noble earl is right in the answer he gave in reference to
an armistice, but I must say on my own part, that • I hope
that the noble earl and the Government will be on their
guard against a repetition of these postponements. (Hear,
hear.) It is impossible not to see the obvious consequences
of future postponements ; it is evident to every ono that the
parties to meet in the conference may make use of these
postponements to come before the conference in a different
position to that in which they are at this moment. I there-
fore trust the noble earl and her Majesty's Government will
employ themselves in noting most accurately what excuses
may be made for a further postponement ; because in this
instance, looking in the distance, and at what I know my-
self has been the course taken by the gentleman to whom
I the noble earl has alluded, I confess I am extremely sus-
picious as to the excuse made on this occasion being sincere
Lord STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE said it was satis-
factory to observe that both sides of the house recognised
the importance of avoiding discussion under present cir-
cumstances. He had no reason to doubt that her Majesty's
Government had already in mind the observations made by
the noble earl on the ether side. At the same time it ap-
peared to him great value attached to what had fallen from
his noble friend. It was satisfactory to those who observed
what was passing that the attention of both sides of the
house was directed to the proper disposition of this confe-
rence. He felt ho was justified in those observations by
what was occurring. It seemed to him impossible for any
one to read the accounts of what had transpired with regard
to Sonderborg, and to the continuance of those hostilities
which were being carried out in a murderous spirit, and
likewise with regard to the apparent intention of extending
those hostilities to the other principal fortress of Denmark
and throughout Jutland, without recognising the great im-
portance that attached to the spirit in which the conference
assembled. He trusted that the progress of the conference
would be accelerated, and that its proceedings would be
brought to a happy end. (Hear, hear.)
Earl RUSSELL said that the noble earl opposite was
quite justified in saying he had a right to ask a question, as
to when the confe:ence would begin. But with regard to
his observations generally, it was just to all parties to re-
member, that when Austria and Prussia had declared their
willingness to enter the conference, and when that proposi-
tion was made by him to Denmark, the =ewer he received

was that there was so much excitement at the tiule at Copen•
hagen, that that court hoped the answer would uqt be pressed
until they had more timo to consider the whole sul:dqct. He,
therefore, did not press it for a fortnight. At the expira-
tion-of that time he communicated the &tamer of Danmark

to the courts of Berlin and Vienna, and no objection was
taken on their part.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HONE OF COMMONS—Last Evening,

THE FIRE INSURANCE DUTY.

On going into Committee of Ways and Means,

Mr. H. SHERIDAN moved as an amendment, that in
the opinion of the house the reduction of the fire ine ,urance
duty in the manner proposed by the Chancellor of Lille Ex-
chequer was not the mode o; reduction contemplated by the
resolution of the house passed last session on the :subject,
and that a uniform reduction of Is. per cent. on all d ascrip-
tions of property liable to the said duty would be m ore an-
ceptoblo to the country.
Mr. HADFIELD seconded the motion, which was
opposed by

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUE 1, who
argued that if adopted it would be totally useless in respect
of any efficacious reduction of the fire insurance du.ty. It
would destroy the principle which the house had approved
in apportioning the balance of revenue and expenditure, and
would sweep away every rag of the surplus. With regard
to his own proposal, he observed that there would be no diffi-
culty whatever in rating stock in trade.

Mr. DISRAELI thought the principle of the amendment
as distinguished from that of the Government proposition,
was the right one; but although he should vote for the
amendment, in the event of its becoming a substantive mo-
tion he should move the omission of the words "one shil-
ling per cent." Thus the house would only be pledging
itself to the principle of a uniform reduction of duty.
After a few remarks from Mr. T. Baring, Sir H. Wil-
loughby, and Sir S. Northcote, the house divided, and the
motion for going into committee was carried by 170 to 117.
The amendment was therefore lost, and the house went into
committee of ways and means.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER submitted
a resolution reducing the fire insurance duty on stock in
trade to la. 6d. per cent. per annum.
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY, by way of amendment, moved
that for stock in trade, houses and buildings should be sub-
stituted; but the amendment was negatived without a divi-
sion, and the motion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer
agreed to nem con.
The house having resumed, on the order for supply,
_

Colonel DICKSON moved for a select committee to in-
quire into the claims of Mr. John Clare, jun., upon the Go-
vernment for compensation for inventions and designs
supplied to the Admiralty in connection with iron ship-
building and the construction of gun boats.
The motion was opposed by Lord C. PIOBT and the
SOLICITOR-GENERAL, who contended that as the matter
had already been investigated and decided in the courts of
law, Mr. Cl ire had no claim for compensation upon the
house.

Ultimately, and after some discussion of no interest, the
motion was negatived.
Sir J. PAKINGTON put questions relative to the pre-
sent state of the Channel fleet, and the reserves in the home
ports. which elicited from Lord C. Paget a statement to the
effect that the first-class steam reserve consisted of 13 ships,
viz., three iron-armoured ships, two line-of-battle ships,
two frigates, three corvettes, and three sloops, and they
were all fit for service. The Channel fleet being compnsed
of iron ships necessarily required a good deal cf docking.
The High Court at Bombay Bill was read a third time
and passed.
The Court of Justiciary (Scotland) Bill, the Fish Teinds
(Scotland) Bill, and the Summary Procedure (Scotland)
Bill were severally passed through committee.
The Charitable Assurances Enrolments Bill was read a
second time.

The Bridges (Ireland) Bill was defeated in committee by
128 to 85.

The CHANCELLOR of the EX CHEQUER nominated
the select committee on the Government Annuities Bill.
Sir M. FARQUHAR moved that the committee have
power to send for and examine persons, papers, and records.
The motion was opposed by the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, Lord Palmerston, and Mr. Vivian ; and was
supported by Lord J. Manners, Mr. Hankey, and Mr.
Ayrton.

Upon a division it was negatived by 127 to 104, and the
committee nominated.

The other business on the paper was also gone through,
and the house adjourned at 10 minues to 1 o'clock,

LONDON- GAZETTE—This Evening.

CROWN OFFICE, APRIL 20.

MEMBERS RETURNED TO SERVE IN THE PRESENT PAR.

LIARENT.
County of Fife—Sir Robert Anstruther, of Balcaskie,
Bert., in the room of James Hay Erskine Wemyss, Esq.,
deceased. . ...