The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-08 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS—This Evening.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.
The house sat for a quarter of an hour, but no business
was transacted, and their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—This Evening,
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
PETITIONS.

Petitions were presented by Sir J. SHELLEY, signed by
1,000 persons, in favour of the reduction of the duty on fire
insurances, and several other petitions to the same effect
were also presented from different parts of the country.
PARISH VESTRIES (IRELAND).
Sir R. PEEL gave notice that he would move for leave
to introduce a bill to amend the law relating to parishes and
vestries in Ireland.
WAREHOUSING SPIRITS.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER gave
notice that he would postpone bringing forward this subject
from Thursday until Monday, the 15th.
LAW OF SETTLEMENT.

Mr, WARNER gave notice that on Friday next he
would call the attention of the house to the Law of Settle-
ment as it affected the poor.
NEW WRIT.

On the motion of Mr, BRAND, a new writ was ordered
to issue for the election of a member for Brighton, in the
room of Mr. Coningham, who has accepted the Chiltern
Hundreds.

COLLECTION OF INCOME TAX.

Mr. WARNER asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
whether he was aware that it had been found necessary in
some cases to resort to a voluntary rate in order to provide
for the collection of the income tax by parochial officers ;
and whether he would consider the propriety of adopting a
regular system ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
he was aware there was a necessity for amendment in the
collection of the income tax, and the subject was under the
consideration of Government.
CHINA.

Mr. W. E. FOSTER asked the Under Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs whether it was true that the town of
Soochow in China had been taken from the Taepings by
help of her Majesty's officers employed by the Imperialists
with the sanction of her Majesty's Government; whether
also the Imperialists were aided by supplies from her Ma-
jesty's arsenals, and whether the town thus taken was de-
livered over to pillage and massacre by the Imperialist
troops notwithstanding the protest, and contrary to the
pledge of the British officer in command ; and if so, whether
any and what steps had been taken by her Majesty's Go-
vernment to withdraw their, assistance to the Pekin Go-
vernment.
Mr. LAYARD said that the Government was not at
present in possession of the necessary information on the
subject. but he was informed from Shanghai that Colonel
Brown was about to investigate the subject.
SOOCHOW.
Lord NAAS asked the Under-Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs whether any despatches had been received
during the recess from Sir Frederick Bruce relative to the
state of affairs in China ; and whether the Government have
received any official accounts of the proceedings of the
Chinese force under the command of Major Gordon of the
Royal Engineers ; and, if so, whether he would lay them
upon the table of the house ; also, whether ha
would lay upon the table all the documents
in possession of the Government relative to the dis-
missal of Mr. Lay from the service of the Emperor of China
and the withdrawal from the Chinese waters of the fleet
lately under the command of Captain Sherard Osborne, of
the Royal Navy.
Mr. LAYARD said the papers in question would be laid
on the table, and at present he was unable to gave the in-
formation required respecting Mr. Lay.
SCHLE SWIG-HOLSTEIN.

In reply to Lord R. CECIL,
Lord PALMERSTON said the Government had re-
monstrated with the Governments of Prussia and Austria with
respect to the proceedings adopted relative to Prince Angus-
tenburg, on the ground that those proceedings were totally
inconsistent with the treaty of 1852, to which both these
Powers were parties. The Prussian Government had
stated their intention to abide by that treaty and
maintain the integrity of the Danish Monarchy. It was
announced also that the Prussian and Austrian Govern-
ments were ready to discuss any questions that
might arise with the other powers that were
parties to the treaty. It was asserted that the resistance
at Schleswig and the hostilities that ensued terminated the
obligations of that treaty. He utterly denied that doctrine.
(Hear, hear.) If it were adopted, a strong power would have
nothing to do bat to make an unprovoked assault on a
Power and say that their own act had put an end to any
treaty. He repeated what he had already said, that the
Prussian Government avowed their intention to maintain
the integrity of the Danish kingdom. (Hear, hear.)
IHE LORDS COMMISSIONERS' SPEECH.
On the motion for the adoption of that portion of the
Speech which relates to the estimates,
Ur. BENTINCII; expressed a hope that the military

forces of this country, and more particularly the cavalry.
would be maintained in a state of efficiency. He expressed
a hope also that the Government would give the house an
assurance that this country would not be drawn into war.
Lord PALMERSTON said he thought the subject ofi
the efficiency of our troops should have been postponed
until the army estimates were brought forward. He had
too much confidence in the spirit and resources of the
country that it would not be prepared for any emergency
that might arise. With regard to the other portion of the
honourable member's observations, he must decline giving
any information as to what course Government would pursue
under some future state of circumstances, and he declined
to play the part of prophet. (Laughter.) If it were neces..
sary to make an armed demonstration the country pos-
sessed strength and energy sufficient for the occasion:
(Hear, hear.).
The motion was then agreed to.
SIR J. LAWRENCE'S ANNUITY.
On the motion of Sir C. Noon, the resolution of corn.
mittee that the pension to Sir J. Lawrence should be con.
tinued, which was seconded by Lord STANLEY, and sup,
ported by Colonel SYKES, was agreed to.
MALT DUTY.

The CHANGELLOR of the EXCHCQUER moved for
leave to bring in a bill to allow the making of malt duty
free to be used in the feeding of cattle, and explained that ho
only asked for a permissive measure for two years.
Some discussion ensued,

CLEFT SITTING.]

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—This Day,

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

COMMITTAL FOR DEFACING, &C., THE ACHILLES
Marchant, charged with defacing and
stealing some of the letters forming the inscription on the
Achilles Statue in Hyde-park, was again brought up.
It may be remembered that the prisoner was seen by a
constable named Chick, on the pedestal on the statue, and
two letters were found to have been taken from the in-
scription.

Mr. Peter Hogg, clerk of the works to the Commissionerg
of Works, said the value of the letters was 23 . each.
Mr. Knox, in committing the prisoner for trial, told hint
that he would be indicted for defacing the statue and steal.
ing the letters.

Police-constable 147 D said the prisoner had been cons
victed of felony.
The prisoner said he would reserve his defence.
Mr. Knox committed him for trial.