The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-17 00:00:00

conduct of Mr. Christie, and denied that the address,
which had been presented to him, represented the wealth,
intelligence, or majority of the British merchants resides+
at Rio. He repeated his belief that the crew of the Prince
of Wales had never been murdered, inasmuch as, from the
nature of the coast, it was mpossibla from them to have
reached the shore alive, and condemned the mode in wnich
the reprisals had been made.

The subject then dropped.
THE LICENSING SYST M

Mr. LAW SON moved th,-, following resolution:--" That,
in the opinion of this Louse, the laws under which licences
are granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors aro emi-
nently unsatisfactory and deficient in power to protect tilt
public, and therefore require immediate alteration "

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER opposed
the motion, on th. ground that no advantage could arise
trom discussing the qutstion at this period of the session—
and also upoa the ground that it was always objactionable
to pass abstract resolu ions.

Mr. NEWDEGATE said that from his experience as a
magistrate, he could state that there was no question up in
woich there was a greater cuncurrence of opinion, that the
hamming system should be revised. With respect to th.
reduction sai t to nave taken place in the consumption of
spirituous liquors he feared it was more owing to the &a-
-u eas prevailing in the manulacturieg districts than to any
increase in habits of temperance amongst the working
classes.

Lord FE itNIOY thought the hon. gentleman wh,t pro•
posed the resolution deserved credit for his good intentions,
but that he was going the wrong way to carry them out
He (Lord Ftrinoy) was for free trade upon the general
principle, but not in licenses. It was a mistake to suppose
that publif.ans as a body were in favour of drunkenness
Drunkards were the great cause of their prosecutions and
penalties, and working men only resorted to pubtic. house.
because they h.d no sources of popular recreation such as
wore provided by t. reign govt-rnments. That was the
main reason why there was more intemperance iu England
than abroad.

Mr. W. E. FORK ER hoped the hon. gentleman would
not press the resolution, because he should 12,.ve to vote for
it, whereas he thought it was a matter which the Govern-
ment should take up in, some comprehensive measure so as
to improve the present highly unsatisfactory system of li-
censing.
After a few words from Sir P. O'BRIEN,

The house divided—
For the resolution
Agaiust it
Majority against reso ution
THE NATIONAL GALLERY

Mr. C. BEN TIN CK called attention to a recent purchase
for 600 guineas by the trustees of the National Gallery, nd
asked the First Lord of the Treasury whether it was not
desirable to discos tinue the practice of acquiring at a high
price pictures which were not authentic works of the mas-
ters to whom they were attributtd, and which were in a
damaged condition.

Mr. PEEL defended the purchase, and stated that there
could be no doubt the picture was painted by Bellini.
Mr. CONINGHAM condemned the purchase, and aleo
the mode in which all such transactions were managed on
the part of the National Gallery.
The subject then dropped, and the house went into com-
mittee of supply pro forma.
The Fortifications (Provisions for Expenses) Bill was
read a third time and passed.
The Union Relief Aid Acts Continuance Bill was consi-
dered as amenned, and agreed to.
The Nuisances Removal Act (1855) Amendment Bill
was read a third time and passed.
Several bills were advanced a stage, and the house ad-
journed.

INDIA, CHINA, AND AUSTRALIA.