The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-31 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS.—(THIS EVENING.)
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.
The Marquis of SALISBURY presented several
petitions on the subject of the Metropolitan Local Man-
agement Bill.
Lord PORTMAN presented a petition from Bat-
tersea, praying that the rights of the parish might be re-
cognised in the bill.
Lord MONTEAGLE moved for copies of the corre-
spondence that had taken place upon the subject of the
taxation of India.—Agreed to.

THE ROYAL SOCIETY.
Lord BROUGHAM called attention to the circum-
stance of the v ithdrawal of the grant of 1,0001.,
which had been for a great many years given
to the Royal Society, and observed that such an
act must have proceeded from a misunderstanding of the
subject. That grant, however small, had enabled that
learned body to further the progress of the Arts and
Sciences—(hear, hear)—and to confer great benefit
upon the community at large. Ile hoped the
Government would take the earliest opportunity of re-
verting to the old practice, by proposing a renewal of
the grant. The noble and learned lord then proceeded
to read a letter eulogising the French Exhibition,
for the advancement made by our continental
neighbours in the arts and sciences, and to express the
earnest desire that the Government would exert them-
selves to foster and encourage all the scientific establish-
ments in this country.
Earl GRANVILLE was understood to express re-
gret at the discontinuance of the grant of the Royal
Society. The grant was originally made from a limited
fund, whose object was specially to aid certain purposes,
and it was discontinued in consequence of the grant to
the Royal Society not being of that character.
The repeated calls made upon the fund com-
pelled them to withhold the usual grant, but
he promised his noble friend, however, that any applica-
tion from the Royal Society for aid should receive the
best consideration of her Majesty's Government.
Lord WYNFORD presented a petition from the Cor-
poration of the City of London against certain provisions
in the Metropolitan Local Management Bill.
[LEFT SITTING.]

HOUSE OF COMMONS-(THIS DAY!)

The SPEAKER took the chair shortly after 12 o'clock.

The Lords' Amendments to the London and South
Western Railway Bill were considered and agreed to.

THE SUNDAY BEER ACT.

Mr. MASSEY presented several petitions fromvarious
patt4 of the metropolis, praying for a modification of the
Sunday Beer Act of last session.

TRANSMISSION OF NEWSPAPERS TO THE
COLONIES.

On the order of the day for the house going into com-
mittee of supply,
Mr. F. SCULLY called attention to the tax of one
penny lately imposed on the transmission of newspapers
to the colonies, which he said was a great inconvenience,
especially to the humbler classes.
Mr. WILSON said, abouttwo years ago a circular was
addressed to the colonies by the Treasury, offering to re-
duce the postage of letters to 6d., and put a stamp duty of
ld. on newspapers, which was gladly acceded to by all
the colonies with one or two exceptions. He hoped,
however, some further arrangements might be effected,
and the matter should be considered.
After a few remarks from Mr. Thornely, Mr.
Al'Mahon, and Mr. Alcock, the subject dropped.
COMMISSARIAT EXPENSES.
Mr. LABOUCHERE drew attention to the want of
control on the part of the house over the very large sums
of money voted for conducting the commissariat depart-
ment.

Mr. A. STAFFORD also complhined of the want of
information on this subject, and he rejoiced the right
hon. gentleman bad drawn attention to it.

Colonel DUNNE said he believed he expressed the
universal feelings of military men, when he said there
was a general alarm among them at the state of disor-
ganisation of all our military departments.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it
was his wish, and the wish of the Government, to give
every information on these subjects. The whole busi-
ness of the Treasury was now to provide for the
wants of the military and other departments con-
nected with the war. As to the Commissariat,
undoubtedly the expenditure now was very large ; hut
no pains or expense had been spared to provide for the
army both in the field and in hospital ; at the same time
an expenditure, at such a distance as our army was now,
could not be so closely controlled as if the army was at
home, but the skill and attention of competent persons
were directed to the subject.
Mr. F. BARING thought it would be the wiser
course to hold the Government responsible for making
successful arrangements, and if they did not do so, to
call them to account for doing so in another session. As
to the transfer of the Commissariat Department to that
of the War, he thought the Treasury had gone too far,
and the Chancellor of the Exchequer should be
inca ed upon to revise that minute. He thought
future the house and the country ought to be
assured that all accounts were nut in a proper state,
and that could
would have a far
Only be done by making regulations that
Lords of the heaterTreasurcheck
than the minute of the
he had referred to.
Mr. HENLEY said that the statement of the Chan.
cell9r of the Excheestimaviteass anything but consoling.
The supplementary
were very large, and he
thought the house was entitled to have more informa-
tion on the subject.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated
that when the
the house he would state how supplementary
he estimat
es were put before
Proposed
to meet them.
He had on a previous occasion allowed a
less than 3,000,0001. to meet the supplineelaregaituaryofesntio.
mates.