The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-24 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE:

Money easy. Gold 599 per cent. premium. Ex-
change on London, 174;1.

Stocks very firm. New York Centrals 1331 ;
Illinois, 131 i; Erie, 1131.

Cotton.—Middling upland, 311. Petroleum
slightly firmer; crude, 301 31; refined, 48 49.
The steamers America and Edinburgh take out
850,000 dole. in specie.

The Proposed Conference on the Dano-

German Question. •

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)

BERLIN, FEB, 24.

It is stated in diplomatic circles that the Conference
for the settlement of the Dana-German question
was proposed by England, with the concurrence of
France, and that the proposal was supported by
Russia.

Prussia and Austria, as already stated, have
accepted the Conference, to which a representa-
tive of the Germanic Diet will be invited.
The Bathe Powers have refused, however, to
grant an armistice, and hostilities will not be dis-
continued during the Conference.

IMPERIAL P.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—This Day.
The SPEAKER took the chair shortly after 12 o'clock.
RENTS (IRELAND) BILL.

On the motion of Mr. LONGFIELD the order for the
second reading of this bill was discharged, with the under-
standing that the measure should be originated in the
House of Lords as previously.
LANDED PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT (IRE-
LAND) ACT AMENDMENT BILL.

In consequence of tho absence of Irish members at the
assizes the second reading
.of the bill was postponed until
April 27.

MALT FOR CATTLE BILL'.
On the motion for going into committee on this bill,

Mr. BASS objected vto the measure, and said
that its nature was not properly understood through-
out the country, and was regarded by the farmers
with great dissatisfaction. Ho denied that the Chancellor
of the Exchequer had made out a satisfactory case for this
bill. The right hon. gentleman said that the duty on beer
was 25 per cent., but the farmers calculated that it amounted
to 75 per cent., and although he (the Chancellor of the
Exchequer) said that the duty on foreign wines which came
into competition with beer was fram 50 to 100 per cent., he
(Mr. Bass) from information received from the highest
autlimities on this subject in London was led to the con-
clusion that the duty on the foreign winos amounted to not
more than 27 per cent. Ho (Mr. Bass) therefore submitted
that this was a reasonable argument why the duty on beer
which the Chancellor of the Exchequer said was 25 per
cent. should be reduced one half. (Hear, heat.)
He was convinced that the measure of the Chancellor of
the Exchequer would not prove satisfactory, in whatever
light it was regarded, and. that the only remedy for the
grievance of which the right hon. gentleman complained
was to reduce the malt duty one half.

Mr. DU CANE said that, during the interval between tho
present time and the second reading of the bill, he had com-
municated with his constituency (an agricultural one), who
were unanimous with regard to this measure, and their opi-
nion might DO summed up in one word, namely, that the
more they looked at it the less they liked it. (Hear, hear.)
Ir-le considered that if anything was calculated to make malt-
stel:s rogues this bill would effectually do it, because it held
forth to them a premium for the adulteration of linseed.
Before 02ncluding he would quote the words of a poet with
whom the
ght hon. gentleman (the Chancellor of the En-
-1:5
chcquor was I:miller : "
tc Tfiueo Donnas et dons feremtes.

(Laughter.)
Colonel DICKSON; as the representative of an agricul-
tural constituency, said ,ho had not heard one sound argu-
ment in favour of the bill. to reference to Ireland, to which
allusion had been made on a pfevious occasion, hs contended
that the causes to which the agricultural distress in that
country might be traced would be aggravated by this mea-
sure, which he felt bound to oppose.
Mr. P. 'URQUHART opposed.
Mr. BEACH supported the bill.
Mr. HENLEY considered that the bill would be quite
inoperative, and he protested against its being accepted
as an answer to the demand that was made for the reduc-
tion in the duty on malt.
Mr. DODSON said that the bill was introduced merely
as an experimental measure, and if it proved successful it
would no doubt lead to further facilities for the use of malt
as an article of food.
Mr. DUTTON approved going into committee, but at
the same time considered that the bill was encumbered with
difficulties, which were inevitable in dealing with. this sub-
ject.
Mr BENTINCK was of opinion that unless those portions
of the bill which provided for the visits of excisemen and
for separate houses for malting were withdrawn, the mea-
sure ought to .be thrown out on the third reading. Re
did not consider that the bill would satisfy tho desire of
the public in reference to the malt duty.
Mr WALTER was not sanguine as to the success of the
bill, but he thought it should have a:fair trial.
After some further discussion,

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER defended
the bill. It was said that there was safety in a multi-
tude of counsellors, and the same might be as
serted of the multitude of the enemies to this
bill who were knocking their heads together as if to ascer-
tain which were the hardest, and he had no doubt in the
end justice would be done. (Laughter.) The right
hon. gentleman.then combatted at length the arguments
against the bill, Which were to thd effect that it was inof-
. .

ficient, a surrepititious method of -getting rid of the desire
for the entire repeal of the dutk on malt, that it was sur-
rounded with insuperable obstacles and, was dangerons
with regard to revenue. As related to the latter, the
Government were responsible for the raising of the revenue
for the public service,
and they could not consent to the
amendments that were on the paper. lie would be most
happy to release the farmer from excise restrictions, but by
doing so in this case ho vrould be surrendering L 6,000,000
re7entte, The opinion of farmers was divided in rderence

to this bill, Sand although it might not effect all the benefit
desirable, he contended that it would do much service,
The honso then went into committee on the bill.
Sir E. DERING moved the following clause :—That it
shall be lawful for -all persons engaged in agriculture to
malt barley (according to the provisions of the act) for the
consumption of their own stock, without taking out a
maltster's licence, but it was subsequently postponed.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
he would move that the Chairman should now report pro-
gress, and be proposed to proceed with the committee next
Friday, but not at an hour that would be inzonvenient.
The house then resumed.
INSANE PRISONERS ACT AMENDMENT BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
The house adjourned at a quarter past :1' o'clock.