The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-13 00:00:00

LEFT SITTING.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS--This Evening.
The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following bills were read a third time and passed :
Alford and Mablethorpe Railway, Clifton Hampden Bridge,
Corris Railway or Tramroad, Deal and Walmer Gas, Edin-
burgh and Glasgow and Alva Railway Companies,
Mythelm Royd Bridge and Blackstone Edge Road, Scot-
tish North Eastern and Scottish Central Railway Compa-
nies, Scottish North. Eastern Railway (Dundee and Forfar
Line), South Eastern Railway (No. 1), South Eastern
Railway (No. 3), Wallingford and Wallington Railway,
and Wellington (Salop) Markets.

ROYAL COMMISSION.
Colonel CLIFFORD, the Yeoman Usher of the Black
Rod, appeared at the bar and summoned the members to
the Upper House to hear the Royal assent given by com-
mission to several bills, for which see Lords report.
THE HERRING FISHERY LAWS (SCOTLAND).
In reply to Mr. Chan,
The LORD ADVOCATE eaid that the subject Was
Money
attended with some difficulty, but he hoped to be able to
introduce a bill in regard to it atter the recess.
SMALL ARMS.
Lord ELCHO asked for some information as to the in-
toil 11050,20_rifles had been manufac-
tured, tentionof the War Department in regard to the
for the manufacture of small arms• _
intended
bWeeoauldlisa.
The Marquis of HARTINGI ON said it Vi:Se
about 1,000 a
to reduce the manufacture of arms at, -Enfield. For the
past year, up to A
thetu r e
productiond , of
for only
the 4O,
past
pear
week

THE OYSTER FISHERIES.
Mr Du CANE asked the President of the Board of
Trade whether the commission appointed last year to inquire
into the present state of the oyster fisheries of this country
had made any report, and whether it was the intention of
this Government to ask the Government of France to agree
to an international commission with a view to alter and
amend the fishery convention tetween France and this
country,_

Mr. M. GIBSON said that the commission had not yet
made their report, but he hoped it would be presented at

the close of the session. With regard to the second ques..
Lion a communication had passed between the English and
the French Governments on the subject, but it was consi..
dered advisable not to come to any decision until the re•
port had been_ presented. •
THE CONFERENCE,
Mr. It. LONG asked the First Lord of the Treasurys
whether the Minister for Foreign Affairs will continue to
preside at the Conference, notwithstanding the exactions
and oppressions alleged to have been perpetrated in Jutland
by the orders of Marshal Wrangel; and, whether her Ma-
jesty's Government have protested and will protest against
the commission of such outrages on non-combatants during
the sittings of the Conference.
Sir G. GREY said that what had occurred in Jutland
was an additional reason for stopping the war, and, with a
view to that object, the noble lord at the head of Foreign
Affairs could not retire from his position. One of the ob-
jects proposed by the Conference was to make the Prussian
troops pay for what they required instead of making levied
on neutral ground.
EX-GOVERNORS OF COLONIES.
Mr. B. COCIIRANE asked the Secretary of State for
the Colonies, what decision the Government had come to
respecting the granting pensions to ex-Governors of Colo-
nies ?
Mr. CARD WELL said the Government had not come to
any decision on the subject.
ALLEGED GRIEVANCES OF EXCISE
OFFICERS.

Mr. W. E. FOR. STER asked the Treasury, when an
answer would be given to tho petition of the gauzers of her
Majesty's Customs, London, praying for redress of gtie•
vances ?
Mr. PEEL said the conclusion which had been arrived
at on this subject would shortly be communicated to the
house.

PURIFICATION OF THE THAMES.
Mr. CLIFFORD asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department, whether his attention had been called
to the large discharge of gas tar refuse into the river
Thames; and, whether he would set the law in motion to
abate a nuisance so prejudicial to the hcalth of the metro-
polis.

- Mr HUTT admitted the importance of the question, and
said that a bill in reference to it was under consideration.
POLICY TOWARDS CHINA.
Colonel SYKES asked the Under Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs whether he would lay upon the table of the
house copy of a despatch from Sir Frederick Bruce to Earl
Russell, respecting the joint policy the Ministers of Russia,
France, and America had agreed to pursue in China; and,
copy of which he had furnished to Mr. Burlinghame, the
American Minister, for communication to the American
Government, and to which Mrßurlinghame referred in his
despatch to Mr. Seward, dated Pekin, 20th June, 1863, and
marked A of the enclosures ?
Mr LAYARD said he did not consider it would be ad-
visable to lay the despatch in question on the table at pre-
sent, as it related to the policy both of France and Russia,