The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-04 00:00:00

THE SAXON.

Lord It. MONTAGU asked the Attorney-General,
whether it be true that the Saxon was captured on the
ground that her cargo was supposed to be the property of
the Confederate States, and whether it be according to the
law of nations to take possession of enemies' goods under a
neutral flag, or to make prize of the neutral vessel contain-
ing these goods; or whether, on the other hand, the Saxon
was captured on the ground that her cargo was Federal
property. which had been seized by a Confederate man-of-
war, and had been transhipped on board the neutral vessel ;
and, if so, whether such an act be in accordance with any
principle of international law.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said representations had
been made to the United States, and no answer had bean
received. It was undesirable, therefore, to have a hypothe-
tical discussion on the subject.
COLONEL CRAWLEY.

Mr. C. FORTESCUE asked the tinier Secretary of State
for War when the proceedings of the court-martial on Col.
Crawley would be laid upon the table of the house ?
The Marquis of HARTINGTON said the papers would
be laid on the table to-night, and the distribution would
take place on Saturday morning.

LETTERS ON SUNDAYS.
Mr. HOPWOOD asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department if there would be any objection to allow
letters posted at the General Post Office on Sunday to be
despatched on that day, on account of the great privilege it
would afford to the public and the small amount of labour
it would entail

Mr. PEEL said that a great objection existed as to the
course which the hen. gentleman recommended. There
was, in all probability, 20,000 letters delivered at the
General Post-office on a Sunday, and to effect a despatch of
that large amount would necessitate the appointment of a
great number of men.

SHEATH OR DAGGER KNIVES.
Mr. HORSFALL asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department, whether her Majesty's Government
were prepared to take any steps to prevent the wearing of
sheath or dagger-knives, from the use of which so many
murders have been committed ?

Sir G. GREY said that he had received communications
from magistrates at Liverpool, from which it appeared that
sailors, particularly foreign sailors, were in the habit of
wearing knives and daggers of a dangerous nature, and he
would be quite ready to adopt any practical means to put
down this practice.

IRON PLATED GUNBOATS.
Mr. FERRAND asked the Secretary of the Admiralty
if contracts, without competition, for two iron-plated gun-
boats had been given, or were intended to be given, to two
shipbuilding firms.
Lord C. PAGET said that the Government were pre-
pared to receive contracts for the construction of those boats
from two eminent firms if they found the tenders were rea-
sonable,

NEW ZEALAND,
Mr, A. MILLS asked the Under Secretary of State for
the Colonies, when the New Zealand correspondence
moved for last session would be laid upon the table ; and,
whether any intelligence had recently been received as to
the proposed transfer of the seat of Government from
Auckland to some other locality in New Zealand ?
Mr. C. FORTESCUE said that the papers alluded to
would be laid on the table to-morrow, and, in reference to
other pr,pers which had been asked for, they would be laid
on tb 3 table shortly.