The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-12 00:00:00

THE SOUTHERN STATES.

le Earl of CORK ga-cre notice, on behalf of the Mar-
quis of (31anriearde, that on Friday next he should move
for c opi es of eorrespone,ence between her Majesty's Govern-
meat and the GtoverrAment of the Southern States, relative
to the removal of tae British Consuls from their ports,
CHLEF RENTS (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill Sias a read a third time and passed,
TURNPIKE ROADS BILL.

Ma "Esiel of ROMNEY moved the second reading of this
bill.

Lc xd STANLEY of AL DERLEY thought there were
nom• a matters contained in the bill that required great con-
side ration, and therefore he wished the noble earl to post-
pone the second reading for a short time.

the Earl of ROMNEY proposed taking the second read-
ing., then the amendments, if thought desirable, could be
rAs de in committee,
The bill was then read a second time.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS--Last Evening.
Tho Speaker took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following bills were read a third time and passed :
Caine Railway, Carmarthen and Cardigan Railway,
Chertsey Gas, Fclkestone Water, Lianally Railway and
Dock Company (No. 1) (Capital), Matlock Bath Water,
Newry and Greenore Railway, Southwark Park, and Wat-
ford and Edgware Junction Railway.
'LIFEBOATS, &c. •
On the motion of Sir S. NORTHCOTT a return of the
number of lives saved by lifeboats and rocket and mortar
apparatus, in each of the last 10 years, was ordered.
COLONEL CRAWLEY.
Lord HOTHAM gave notice that on Tuesday next, on
the motion of the hon. member for Andover, he would move
for the production of two documents other than those refer-
red to by the hon. member.
TROOPS IN CHINA.
Col. SYKES gave notice that, on going into committee
on the army estimates, he would ask a question relative to
the transfer of the Indian troops that were stationed in
China.

LIGHTHOUSE AT CORK HARBOUR.
In reply to Mr. SCULLY,
Sir R. PEEL said that the question of the lighthouse
had been under the consideration of the Trinity Corporation
and the Irish Board of 'Works, but there was some differ-
ence on the subject.
THE GOVERNMENT ANNUITIES BILL.
Mr. WICKHAM asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
whether, in his statement on Monday last on the Govern-
ment Annuities Bill, he had any intention, when alluding
to the transactions between the Professional and European
Societies, to impute any dishonourable or improper conduct
to the European Society.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER explained
that he had no intention of imputing anything dishonour-
able to the European Society, which he did not consider in-
volved improperly in the transactions referred to.
HARBOURS OF REFUGE.
Sir S. NORTHCOTE asked the President of the Board
of Trade what steps had been taken by the Government
since the reports of the Select Committee of 1857 and the
Royal Commission on Harbours of Refuge, for the con-
struction or improvement of harbours; and, whether he
would lay upon the table any correspondence that may have
taken place between the several departments of the Govern-
ment on this subject.
Mr. M. GIBSON said in regard to the first question, he
had to state that a bill had passed in 1861 to allow loans for
the purpose of constructing harbours of refuge. In con-
formity with the provisions of that bill £3,000,000 had
already bees granted, and propositions for £200,000 or
£300,000 more were under consideration.
THE ALLEGED CASE OF STARVATION AT
BETHNAL GREEN.
Lord R. CECIL asked the President of the Poor Law
Board, whether his attention had been drawn to the case
of starvationlin Bethnal-green, alleged to have taken place
through the neglect of the relieving officer; and whether
any investigation into that officer's conduct is to be insti-
tuted.

Mr. 'VILLIERS said the case alluded to had been under
consideration, and from inquiries it appeared that the man
had been in receipt of Iss. a-week, and no applicatioa had
been made for nutriment as regarded the woman.
STOPPAGE OF SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' PAY.
Mr. ADDINGTON asked the President of the Poor
Law Board, whether any provision was made by law for
the stoppage out of the pay of soldiers, marines, sailors,
and militiamen, of such sums of money as may have been
expended from the poor rate in the relief of their wives and
children when deserted by them and left chargeable to the
parish or union where they are residing; and, if not,
whether he will enter into correspondence with the Horse
Guards authorities for the purpose of effecting an arrange..
ment to meet the case.
Mr, VILLIERS said that this was a direct provision
to prevent any such stoppage, and he thought interference
With the subject would not be advisable.
THE COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL.
Sir J. PAKINGTON asked the Vice-President of the
Committee of Council on Education when he would lay upon
the table the annual report of the Committee of Council :
whether he had issued instructions to her Majesty's in-
spectors of schools directing that this year and in future
reports would be required from one-half of their number ;
and whether the reports received this year from the inspec-
tors would be presented to the house in the usual manner,
and without omission or mutilation ?
Mr. LOWE said that the report of the Committee of
Privy Council would be laid on the table in June, the usual
Lime,
THE DANO-GERMAN QUESTION.
Mr. S. FITZGERALD rose to draw the attention of
the noble lord at the head of the Government to what he had
stated on Tuesday evening. The noble lord said
that proposals were made for a conference with
the belligerent powers on a basis for maintaining the in-
tegrity of Denmark, to which the principal powers of
Europe had agreed. It appeared, however, that the
noble lord, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, had
made a totally different statement to the effect that France
had not been communicated with on the subject, because it
was thought right to communicate first with the belligerent
Powers. He concluded by asking for information on the
matter. (Hear, hear.)
Lord PALMERSTON said he thought these questions
should not at present be asked pending negotiations be-
tween Powers who had different views on the subject.
(Hear, hear.) What he had intended to state was that
the proposition for an armistice having failed, her Ma-
jesty's Government deemed the matter so im-
portant that they endeavoured to have a conference
adopted. He stated on the occasion in question that
Prussia and Austria had agreed to that conference,
but that no answer had been received from Den-
mark. France, Russia, and Sweden would agree to the
proposal, and all the powers were agreed to adhere to
the provisions of the treaty of 1852, and maintain
the integrity of Denmark. However, in the pre-
sent stage of the proceedings, the formal basis
could be decided on. Tho hon. gentlemen proceeded en-
tirely on a misconstruction of what he had stated, and as
be and his noble friend the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs were entirely agreed on the subject no difference
could possible arise between them.
SIR ROWLAND HILL,
Lord PAL NIERSTON gave notice that, as Sir Rowland
Hill had retired from the able discharge of his official duties,
he would move that the house should go into com-
mittee on Monday for the purpose of considering the
granting of a pension to Lady Hill in the event of her sur-
viving her husband
zTAE DECLINE OF THE POPULATION OF
IRELAND.
On the order for going into committee of supply,
Mr. HENNESSY called attention to some of the causes
of the decline of the population of Ireland, and especially
to the difference between the laws for the relief of the poor
in Ireland and the laws for the relief of the poor in Eng-
land and Scotland. He was of opinion that this difference
of law was the chief cause of the diminution in the popula-
tion, and that if the poor law in Ireland were the same as
that which existed in this country, the effect would be at
once to relieve a large number of poor and to reduce the
rates: He moved, " That the house was of opinion that it
was just and expedient to extend to Ireland the beneficial
provisione of the English poor law."
The notion was seconded by Mr. BLAZE, and opposed by
lan VANCE, who contended that the introduction of the
English poor law into Ireland would be a virtual confisca-
tion of the land of that country. It was also opposed by
Sir F. lIEYGATE and Mr. O'REILLY, the latter of whom
maid that, however much the decline of population in the
sieterisland was to be lamented, it the English law of set-
tlement wore transplanted there the state of things in that
respect would be even worse than it was at present.
Sir H. BRUCE contended that the Irish workhouses
were well managed institutions, and said that the land
there was rated in the same proportion as in this country,
and that the yearly amount actually expended in the main•
tenance of the poor was upwards of £387,000. He com-
plained, however, of the salaries of officers, some of whom
were employed for Imperial purposes, and the expenses
incurred for registration of births, deaths, and marriages,
which had nothing whatever to do with the relief of the
poor, being charged apon the peer rates.
After some remarks from Mr. DUNLOP and Sir P.
O'BIUEN,
Mr. H. HERBERT said if the motion meant anything
it meant the introduction of out-door relief into Ireland, as
a means of checking the rapid emigration of the people.
But his belief was that the causes of the exodus were such
as would render any legislative measure totally jeopera•
tive. As long as there was such a vast difference in the
rate of wegee between America and Ireland it would be