The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-07 00:00:00

vernment intended to adopt any measures likely to-be more
effectual than those which have hitherto been attempted,
for the purpose of relieving the people and King of Den-
mark from the oppression to which they were daily sub-
jected? The hon. member endeavoured to address the
house, and to enter into the general matters connected with
the question, but was called to order by the Speaker,
Sir G. GREY said that the Conference was sitting, and
he believed the first result would be an armistice. On the
part of her Majesty's Government he could only say that
their desire was to effect an amicable arrangement between
the German Powers and Denmark, and to restore peace.
(Hear, hear.)
NAVY ESTIMATES.

In reply to Sir J. PAX.INGTON,
Lord C. PAGET was understood to say that he would
lay the supplementary estimate for the increased pay of
officers of the Royal Navy on the table before Whitsuntide,
and that he proposed the discussion should come on
shortly after the holidayTHs.
E AURORA.

Mr. D. GRIFFITH asked whether the aurora frigate,
under the command of Sir Leopold M'Clintock, had been
sent to the North Sea in the direction of the Austrian
squadron; and if so, why a force more adequate to cope
with any possible contingency that might arise had not
been despatched at the same time?
Lord C. PAGET said that the Aurora had been sent
to the North Sea according to a practice that had pre-
vailed in this country for some time, namely, that
a British man-of-war should be placed in seas where the
British nation had an interest, and where a foreign squad-
ron might be expected to visit.
THE AUSTRIAN SQUADRON.
In reply to Sir J. PAKINGTON,
Lord C. PAGET said that the Austrian squadron had
left the Downs, but he did not know what was its desti-
nation.

Sir G. GREY said that he could only repeat the answer
he had given on a previous occasion to the effect that he
had new assurances from the Austrian Government that
the fleet was going into the North Sea merely to prevent a
blockade of the Elbe and the Weiper.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS;
Mr. G. DUFF called attention to the Reports of the
Public Schools Commission. He analyzed the report, with
reference to the descriptions it gave of the present state of
things, which were very unsatisfactory; and to the recom-
mendations of the Commissioners, which he discussed,
supplementing them with recommendations and suggestions
of his own, and estimates of the relative value and import-
ance of different branches of study. He noticed the subjects
of discipline, of which the Commissioners reported more
favourably than of the intellectual attainments of the
scholars ; of the buildings ; of recreations in relation to
health, and remarked the omission in the report of any
mention of the importance of some system of training
masters. He concluded a long speech, which repeated in-
dications of impatience showed was considered too long, by
moving a resolution—" That the state of the higher school
education in England is not satisfactory, and calls for the
early attention of her Majesty's Government."
The UHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, after re-
marking that the discussion of this subject so soon after the
publication of the report might be thought premature, paid
a warm tribute to the laborious and valuable services of the
Commissioners, to whom, he said, the Government were
indebted. With regard to the motion, he observed that it
was premature, at least, to ask the concurrence of the house
in a resolution which really amounted to a condemnation of
the Commissioners. He defended the teachers of our public
schools, and took a comprehensive view of the instruction
received in the Universities and public schools of England
and Scotland, combining training power and teaching
power, claiming for those institutions a debt of gratitude
from the country. In noticing the improvements suggested

in the branches of learning to be taught there, he dwelt
upon the danger of overloading the mind so as to prevent
its faculties from growing and thriving. It was the inten-
tion of the Government, he said, to take the report into con-
sideration, with a view to legislate upon the subject, and he
pointed out the objects to which Parliamentary legislation
should be directed.
Mr. WALPOLE recommended that the resolution
should be withdrawn after what had been said by the
Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Sir S. NORTHCOTE, one of the Commissioners, do-
scribed their course of proceeding in the inquiry, especially
in the matter of discipline.
The resolution was withdrawn.
Sir H. BRUCE moved a resolution, " That it is not just
to charge the poor-rate in Ireland with the registry of
voters and births and deaths, and that it be an instruction
to the committee appointed on the subject of taxation in
Ireland to consider how the said expenses may be more
equitably charged." He complained of the hardship of
this tax being laid upon the poor-rate, and contended that
it had been so placed for reasons which were not valid.
The feeling of the country he said was deep upon this sub-
ject.

Sir R. PEEL replied to Sir 11. BRUCE, and recommended
him to withdraw his motion.
Atter a few remarks by Mr HENNESSY, the motion was
withdrawn.
Sir J. HAY moved a resolution, "That this House
would view with satisfaction the distribution of the full
sum awarded by the Order in Council of 1854 for the re-
tired officers in the Royal Marines, as it would tend to ex-
pedite the necessary promotion in that valuable corps."
This, he observed, was a sum of money which the officers
considered had not been distributed as it should be, and
they therefore thought they were ill treatod.
Mr W. Wiluaats opposed the motion upon economical
principles, and Lord C. PAGET upon the tacts and merits
of the case.
This motion was also withdrawn.
Mr. D. SEYMOUR called attention to the practice of
of transporting convicts and vagrants from the Channel
Islands to Southampton and other southern seaports. He
read statements which showed that by the criminal law of
the Channel Islands such transportation was legalised.
Sir G. GREY said his attention had been called to the
matter, and he had directed inquiries to be made in Guern-
sey and Jetsey. He had not yet received an answer to his
inquiry from the letter island, but from GuernsEY ho had
received a complete answer (which he read), Flowing that
Mr. Seymour must have been misinformed.
Mr. M'EVOY moved the following resolution :—" That
her Majesty's Government should aow adopt the recom-
mendation of the Select Committee of 18.53, which recom-
mended her Majesty's Goverumnent to take into considera-
tion the claims of Ireland to a grant of the half cost of
medical officers in tualans, with the view of providing for
the same in futu;•o, as is now the practice in England and
Scotland.' "
Sir R. TEEL insisted that no good ground had been
assigned for the relief sought, and recommended the with-
drawal of the motion.
The motion was supported by Mr. Monaell, Colonel
Dunne, Mr. Bagwell, Mr. Hennessy, Sir H. Bruce, and
Lord J. Browne ; and opposed by Mr. Peel and Sir G.
Grey.
Upon a division, the resolution was negatived by /3
to 58.