The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-28 00:00:00

GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,

Her Majesty commands us to convey to you her
warm acknowledgments for the liberal supplies
which you have granted for the service of the pre-
sent year, and towards the permanent defence of
her Majesty's dockyards and arsenals ; and her
Majesty commands us to thank you for the provi •
sion you have made for the establishment of his
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.

MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

The distress which the Civil War in North Ame•
rica has inflicted upon a portion of her Majesty's
subjects in the manufacturing districts, and towards
the relief of which such generous and munificent
contributions have been made, has in same degree
diminished, and her Majesty has given her cordial
assent to measures calculated to have a beneficial
influence upon that unfortunate state of things.
Symptoms of a renewal of disturbance have
manifested themselves in her Majesty's colcny of
New Zealand, but her Majesty trusts that by wise
and conciliatory measures, supported by adequate
means of repression, order and tranquillity will be
maintained in that valuable and improving colony.
Her Majesty has given her assent to a measure
for augmenting the income of a considerable number
of small beneficed, and she trusts that this mea-
sure will be conducive to the interests of the Esta-
blished Church.

Her Majesty has given her assent to an Act for
the revision of a large portion of the Statute Book,
by the removal of many acts which, although they
had become obsolete or unnecessary, obstructed
the condensation of the Statute Law.
Her Majesty has felt muoh pleasure in giving her
assent to an Act for placing upon a well-defined
footing that Volunteer Force which has added
most important element to the defensive means of
the country.
Her Majesty has gladly given her assent to an
Act for carrying into effect
w the Additional Treaty
concluded by her Majesty with the rident
the United States for the more effectual suppres-
sion of the slave trade ; and her Majesty trusts that
the honourable co-operation of the Government of
the United States will materially assist her Majesty
in those endeavours which Great Britain has
long been engaged in making to put an
end to the perpetration of that most disgracelu'
crime. Her Majesty has assented with satisfaction
to many other measures of public usefulness, the
ghthveMe presentraiest7 t So
es
observen
result of your labours during
It has been gratifying to
that notwithstanding many adverse
se
the general prosperity of her circumstances
empire continues

unimpaired. Though great local distress has been
suffered in Great Britain from the effects of the
civil war in America, and in Ireland from the re-
sults of three unfavourable seasons, the financial
resources of the United Kingdom have been fully
maintained, and its general commerce with the
world at large has not been materially impaired.
It has been a source of great satisfaction to her
Majesty to find that her East Indian possessions,
rapidly recovering from the disasters which lately
overspread them; are entering upon a course of im-
provement, socia;, financial, and commercial, which
holds out good promise for the growing prosperity
of those extensive regions.
On returning to your several counties you will
sti►l have important duties to perform ; and her
Majesty fervently prays that the blessing of
Almighty God may attend your efforts to promote
the welfare and happiness of her subjects, the ob-
ject of her constant and earnest solicitude.

HOUSE OP COMMONS—This Day.
The SPEAKER took th- chair—for the last time this
Session—at 20 20 minutes to 3 o'clock. There was a fair
tendance of members.
RETURNS.
A number of unopposed returns were agreed to.
NEW WRIT—PONTEFRACT—ELEVATION OF
MR. It. M. MILNES TO THE PEERAGE.
On the motion of Mr. BRAND, a new writ was ordered
to be issued for this borough, in the room of Mr. R. M.
Milnes, who had resigned. The motion was met with some
cheers, and appeared to afford general satisfaction to the
house, it being understood that he is to be elevated to the
peerage.
REMOVAL OF RAILINGS ROUND PUBLIC
STATUES--LABELLING PICTURES.
Mr. E WART asked the First Commissioner of Works
whether the iron rails which surrounded the statue of
Achilles in Hyde-park, and those which surrounded other
statues, would be removed, as had been done successfully
with respect to the statue of Charles the First at CLaring-
cross, and that of George the Third: also, whether, on the
water-colour drawings of Turner and other artists exhibited
at South Kensington, labels would be fixed, giving the
public information as to the subjects, and the painters of
such water-colour drawings?
Mr. COWPER replied that the railings round the publie
statues had been removed without any damage ensuing,
and so far as authority extended, he should direct tne re-
moval of any railings or other obstacle which obstructed
the view of public statues or their pedestals It wt,l3 the
duty of the authorities connected with our picture galleries
to affix descriptions to the various pictures, and the names
of the artists.
BANKRUPTCY ACT RETURNS.
Mr. MURRAY gave notice that early next session he
should
call attention to the fact that the bankruptcy returns
had not been laid on the table, though repeatedly promised,
as required by the recent act.
THE METRIC SYSTEM.
Mr. E WA R r intimated that early next session he should
seek leave to introduce a permissive bill on this subject.

BENCHERS.
Sir G, BOWYER gave notice that early next session
hd should introduce a bill to regulate the proceedings of the
benchers.

STANDING ORDERS.

Mr. AYRTOVintiiii&cr tlTit;eaWYnext session he
should propose an alteration in the standing orders, so as
t give ample tame for the consideration of bills in all their
stages.

THE ALIENATION OF THE lONIAN ISLANDS.
Mr. D. GRIFFITH intimated that next gondola he
should ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the
Secretary of Sato for Foreign Affairs had not recently ex-
pressed an opinion that the Crown could not alienate any
of its possessions without the consent of Parliament.

NATIONAL EDUCATION (IRELAND).
Mr. BUT gave notice that next session he should move
an address to the Crown on this subject.
PRECEDENCY OF MAYORS AND LORD
PROVOSTS.

Mr. B WN- WES rHEAD asked the Secretary of State
for the Home Department whether he had received a com-
munication, from the Lord Mayor of York, on the question
which had arisen between the Lord Provost of Edinburgh
and the Lord Mayor of Dublin, and claiming, on the part
of the dignity of the office of Lord Mayor of York, prece •
dence next to that of the Lord Mayor of London; and
whether ho would direct that the claim of precedence of the
Lord Mayor of York over both the Lord Provost of Edin-
burgh and the Lord Mayor of Dublin, be settled by the
proper authority ?
Sir G. GREY replied that the Lord Mayor and Corpo-
ration of London were entitled by charter to personally ad-
dress the Crown, so that the precedence of the other Lord
Mayors and the Lord Provost could not arise. (Laughter.)
THE CASE OF CAPTAIN MELVILLE WHITE.
Sir G. BOWYER asked the Under Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs whether the Senate of Hamburg had yet
accepted the friendly office of arbitrator between her Ma-
jesty's Government and the Government of Peru in the
case of Captain Melville White ; whether any agreement
had yet been signed by her Majesty's and the Peruvian
Government, fully establishing the bases upon which this
case is to be arbitrated, and how much longer it was likely to
be before the claims of Captain Melville White against the
Peruvian Government would be definitively settled ?
Mr. LAYARD replied that the exact terms of the arbi-
tration had not yet been definitively settled ; but he hoped
that no great time would elapse before a settlement was
arrived at.
THE lONIAN ISLANDS.

Mr. D. GRIFFITH asked the First Lord of the Trea-
sury what would be the nature of the guarantee to be
entered into to prevent the future acquisition of the lonian
Islands by any other power than Greece ; and which of the
European powers would be the parties by whom that gua-
rantee would be executed ? . .

Lord PALMERSTON replied that no step could be taken
in the direc.ion indicated without the consent of the powers
that were parties to the original protectorate by Great
Britain. . _