The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-23 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening.

The Speaker did not take the chair until 25 minutes to
one on account of there not being 40 members present until
that hour.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following railway tills were read a third time and
passed :—Lancashire and Yorkshire (Blackburn, &c., lines)
—Caledonian (Glasgow Harbour)—llfracombe--Lancashire
Union—London, Brighton, and South Coast—Rhymney
(Extensions)—Rickmansworth, Amersham, and Chesham
—West Sussex Junction—Redruth and Falmouth Junc-
tion—Kilkenny Junction—Much Wenlock and Severn
Junction and Wenlock Railway, The Stock District Water
and the Sheila' Charities Bills were also passed,

Arden's Estate Bill was read a second time.
CONSOLIDATED FUND (APPROPRIATION)
BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
INDIAN MEDICAL SERVICE BILL.

On the order cf the day for the consideration of this bill,
as amended,

Mr P. HENNESSY moved the addition of the following
clause, "Any person, being a natural born subject of her
Majesty, who may be desirous of being appointed an assis-
tant in the said forces, shall be admitted to be examined as
a candidate for such appointment." The bill as it at pre.
sent stood entirely put an end to the competitive system ;
and, although it had been said by the Secretary of State for
India that the system of open competition would,
to a certain extent, remain, he preferred to have it
expressly laid down in the bill. The hon. gentleman then
read an extract from the Lancet, which stated that the mea-
sure, if passed in its present form, would entirely destroy
the efficiency of the East Indian medical service.
Col. SYKES seconded the amendment, He did not see
how the right hon. gentleman the Secretary for India could
object to the words of the proposed addition to the bill be•
cause they were part of the Queen's proclamation to the
people of India. The refusal of the clause was, in effect,
to refuse that to the people of India which had been pro-
mised them by her Majesty's proclamation.
Sir C. WOOD said it was a mistake for any one to
suppose that he was opposed to the competitive
system, because he was the very person who introduced it.
The bill, therefore, was not to abolish the competition, but
it was to enable him to form a staff medical corp for India
from amongst those medical officers in her Majesty's army
who have entered it by competitive service. The Indian
Medical Service was at present very deficient, and he be-
lieved that the Queen's army would be benefited by that
which he now proposed to do. He did not in the slightest
degree wish to interfere with the regulations at present
in existence in the Queen's army.
Col. NORTH was in favour of the amendment.

Mr BRADY said it was entirely owing to the illibera
treatment the medical men received that there was any:diffi-
culty in the matter. The medical man's pay was much less
than that of other officers of a similar position, and whilst
that state of, things existed. it was impossible to suppose
that gentlemen would enter upon duties of great responsi-
bility without being adequately remunerated for the labour.
ThQ position of the surgeon in the army, as far as rank was
concerned, was that of a eaptain whilst he only reached the
pay of a lieutenant.

Sir C. WOOD said that that state of things had been
altered by advices taken out by the last mail.
Sir J. TRELAWNY opposed the amendment.
A division then took place, when there appearsd—
For the amendment
Against it
Majority against the amendment —2o
The amendment was negatived, and the bill ordered to
be rccd a third time on Monday.

FORTIFICATIONS (EXPENSES) BILL.

This bill was ordered for a third reading on Monday.

CRANBOURNE- STILE tiT BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
PILOTAGE ORDER CONFIRMATION BILL.
The bill was read a third time and passed.
BANK POST BILLS (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
POOR REMOVAL BILL,
This bill was read a third time and passed.
STAMP DUTIES ACT (1.861) Bill.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
EAST INDIA REVENUE ACCOUNT.

Mr. MASSEY brought up the report, which was agreed

RAILWAY (IRELAND) ACT AMENDMENT BILL.
The Lords' amendments to this bill were considered and
agreed to.

DRAINAGE, &c. (IRELAND) BILL,
The Lords' amendments to this bill were also considered
and agreed to.

DEFENCE ACT AMENDME.N.I BILL.

This bill passed through committee.
The sitting was then suspended.
The house resumed at six o'clock.
THE ABERDEEN ACT.
Mr B. OSBORNE gave notice that next session he
should move to bring in a bill for the repeal of the Aberdeen
Act of 1845, the object of which was the suppression of the
Brazilian slave trade.

SEIZURE OF THE CHINCHA ISLANDS BY THH

SPANIARDS.

In answer to Mr MAGLTIRE,

Mr LAYARL) said that the seizure of the Chincha
Islands by the Spaniards had occasioned great excitement
and sympathy among several of the South American States,
tlnd Venezuela and other States had declared that if these
islands were retained in the possession of Spain, they were
prepared to give their material aid to Peru ; but it appeared
that the Spanish Government disavowed any such inten-
tion, and had stated its readiness to restore the islands as
soon as its claims on Peru had been satisfied. He believed
that the Republic of the Equador had proffered the use of
their harbour to the Spanish authorities.

VANCOUVER'S ISLAND.

In reply to Mr A. MILLS,

Mr LAYARD also stated that he had received a despatch
from the Governor of Vancouver's Island, conveying a re-
solution of the Legislature, to the effect that the offer of the
Imperial Government to transfer the Crown lands to the
colony did not afford an equivalent for the civil list asked.
This was coupled, however, with the expression of a desire
to be more or less united with British Columbia in sharing
the expense. What the answer of the latter was to the
proposal he was not yet aware, but he had no reason to be-
lieve that it would be a favourable one.

TELEGRAPHIC INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS.

----
Replying to Sir C. DOUGLAS,
Mr LAYARD said he had not seen the circular which
was reported by the newspapers to have been addressed by
the French Government to various Powers inviting them
to participate in an international congress for the purpose
of regul.itiog telegraphic communications in Europe. No
such circular, however, had been sent to her Majesty's
GovernMent, for the simple reason that in this country
the telegraphic lines were in the hands of private
companies.

In answer to Mr. G. DUFF,
Mr LAYARD stated that neither her Majesty's Govern-
ment nor the British Ambassador at Constantinople had
directly or indirectly expressed approval of the recent coup
d'etat of Prince Couzl.

THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

In reply to Mr WARNER,
_ - _

Mr CARDWELL said that no arrangement had been
come to with the Government of the Cape of Good Hope as
to the expenses of possible future wars. The right hon.
gentleman added that he had that day received a despatch
from the Governor to the effect that the expectations he had
formed with regard to tea continuance of tranquillity in
the Transkei were well founded ; that he would spare no
pains to overcome by legitimate means the feelings of dis-
content that* were entertained by Vac Kaffir chief, Kreli,
and that the commander of the forces agreed with him in
the opinion that it was inexpedient to make an advance on
the frontier.

Mr D. GRIFFITH wised to know if tho house was to
understand that the arrangement between the Porte and
COUZA had been arrived at without consulting the
other European Powers.
Mr LAYARD replied that the arrangement made at
Constautinople was with the sanction of all the powers who
were parties to the treaty of Paris.
GOVERNMENT MANUFACTURING ESTABLISH•

On the motion for MIEN TS.
Monda the adjournment of the house to
y,
Mr COBDEN called attention to the recent great exten-
sion of the Government manufacturing establishments, con-
tending hat since we commenced business as shipbuilders)

gunmakers, and tailors, the expenditure had enormously
increased, while the efficiency of the service had suf-
fered by the experiment. He argued that, so long as
we maintained establishments in which we had no cus-
tomer but ourselves, so long should we continue to pro-
duce more than we required. What we wanted
was a thorough reform in the buying department,
because if we were ignorant of the quality of the raw ma-
terial, how was it possible that we could produce the best
manufactured article ? As an illastration of the folly of
becoming our own manufacturers and discarding private
workshops, Mr Cobden stated that ironclads, cannon, small
arms, and clothing had all been proved to be defective,
while marine steam engines and compasses which we ob-
tained from private manufacturers, and which constituted
the lungs and brains of our great ships, were always found
efficient. In conclusion, he moved—" That the recent great
extension of Government establishments calls for the atten-
tion of the Government. That it is expedient that steps be
forthwith taken to place each separate establishment as
nearly as possible on the footing of a private manufacturing
concern or a public company, by taking a valuation of the
fixed and floating capital employed, including the value of
the land, and that upon this basis there be an annual stock
taking; when, after making all the customary deductions
for depreciation of buildings, machinery and plant, interest
of capital, rates and taxes, and other charges, such a price
be charged to the Government departments for articles
supplied as shall preserve the capital intact; and that these
accounts, with a balance sheet, be laid annually on the table
of this house."
Colonel BART TELOT seconded the motion.

Mr MONSELL contended at some length that the
Government establishments were not open to the censure
of Mr Cobden; but that, on the contrary, they were con-
ducted on a good principle, and had been entirely suc-
cessful.

Mr Alderman ROSE opposed the motion, and expressed
his hope that the Government would not act upon the re-
commendations contained in it, which would leave them
again at the mercy of contractors.
Mr WHITE proclaimed his complete adherence to the
principle for which Mr Cobden contended, insisting that it
was the duty of the Government to check the overgrown
establishments of which the hon. gentleman had com-
plained.
Mr. CORRY defended the policy of Lord Derby's Go-
vernment in making a considerable addition to our wooden
fleet. He considered that, with our limited information at
that period, the Admiralty would not have been justified
in ordering the construction of a large number of iron plated
ships.

Mr CIIILDERS replied to the objections of Mr Cobden
so far as the manufacturing establishments of the dockyards
were concerned, and stated that it was the intention of the
Admiralty to take stock hereafter of all the plant in their
possession on the first day of the year.

Colonel DICKSON supported the motion, and argued
that the whole system of clothing the army might be greatly
improved by trusting to private contract.
The Marquis of HARTINGTON said that for ten years
past there was not so little spent as in the present; and yet
the hon, member for Rochdale had sat still while the Go-
vernment were increasing their establishments ; and when
those establishments had reached limits which had not been
contemplated, the hon. member called attention to the fact
that they were extended. What the hon. member proposed
to substitute for them he did not,he confessed, clearly under-
stand. The hon. member accused the Government of hay.
ing become manufacturers because they were bad buyers;
but he did not think the hon. member had clearly established
that point. The temptation to contractors to supply cheap
rather than good articles was a very great one, and he did
not know how excellence could be secured except by a very
rigid system of inspection, which the hon. member did not
appear to favour. Great stress had been laid by the right
hon. gentleman opposite upon the establishment of the
laboratory at Woolwich ; but that laboratory had become
an absolute necessity. (Hear, hear.) He could not see how
the Government maeutactories could be made answerable
for what was called the failure of the Armstrong guns, be.
cause it' the statement was accurate that the gun had failed,
that would not be the fault of the factory, but of the scien-
tific advisers who had recommended the gun and were an-
swerable for it. It was said it was a mistake to enter into
a contract with the Elswick Works, and at the same time to
appoint Sir W. Armstrong the superintendent of the fac•
tory. But that had nothing to do with the statement of
having manufacturing departments ; and as for tenders, the
fact that there were only two or at most three tenders sent
in for the supply of the cast-iron guns, was sufficient to
show that but few houses were willing to erect the machi-
nery and to take the trouble that was required for the
manufacture of guns. As to Elswick, the Government must
either give a guarantee to the company for the repayment
of a certain portion of the capital expended in plant, or else
they must have ordered of the company such a supply of
guns as would have repaid them for the immense outlay on
their stock. Now, from the first day the manufacture of the
Armstrong gun was commenced, Sir W. Armstrong and
others had been continually improving upon it, and if the
Government had entered into large contracts for guns, they
would have been obliged to accept many of an interior kind,
or would have had to pay the company an enormous amount
of compensation. With regard to the Enfield factory, the
hon. gentleman had said a good deal about the former sys-
tem of purchasing the riles in pieces from different firms.
This was not by any means due to the Government, but to
the fact that the trade was then carried en in that way in
Birmingham, and was so carried on at this moment; but
as eack part of the rifle required to be separately inspected
before it was pat together, no delay was caused by that
system, Papers laid on the table of the house had shown
the shortcomings of contractors in this respect, and he
reminded the honourable gentleman that it was the Go-
vernment, and not the private manufacturers, who had
first produced the machinery which was now used to a
great extent by the trade in Birmingham and London. The
establishment that had found no friends in that debate was
the clothing establishment at Pimlico. Now, a great part
of the expense of that establishment—such as the erection
of buildings, and the hire of land—was not incurred through
the factory at Pimlico, but through the establishment there
for the reception an.: inspection of clothing received from
contractors. Pimlico only made clothing for 40 battalions
of the line, and shell jackets and trousers for the rest. Con-
tractors still made clothing for 53 battalions, and also for the
post office and metropolitan police. This very article
of clothing showed to what an extent the system of con-
tracting was likely to satisfy them. There was now only
one clothing contractor—a constituent of the hon. member
for Limerick—who had driven the rest out of the field, and
it seemed to him if they were to give up the manufactories,
they would be left in the hands of one or two contractors.
With regard to the balance-sheets the object had been to
show to the House, as accurately as possible, what the work
done by the establishments was. The account the hon.
gentleman had proposed would be a purely fictitious one,
and he was sure if they were to resort to it the hon.
gentleman would be the first to accuse them of something
like cooking theeiceounts. The hon gentleman wished them
to pay rates and taxes They did not pay rates and taxes,
therefore such an account would be purely fictitious. He
believed the accounts showed accurately and fairly what
was the price to the country of these armaments, and he
believed that, whatever might have been the question
before they got the machinery, now that they had it their
eystem was the most useful and economical. He believed
also that on that account there was now a great saving to
the country as compared with the cost of purchase from
private manufacturers. No member of the House could
be more anxious than the War Department was that
the accounts should be presented accurately to the House.
All the accounts sent to Woolwich gave it as their opinion
that the accounts of the establishment there were perfectly
fair and correct. He himself could not say whether they
were or not, but he thought it would have been much bet-
ter if the hon. member for Rochdale had trusted to the
opinions of commercial men rather than come down to that
house and say that these accounts were worth nothing at
all. He remembered the hon. member speaking in very
sweeping terms of the extravagance of all Government fac-
tories, but to-night he confessed that the factory at Enfield
had been worked at a profit. If the expenditure at these
establishments were wasteful, it must be the result of bad
management, and certainly the honourable member had not
pointed out that mismanagement, Ho did not believe there
was that mismanagement, while, on the other hand, Go-
vernment establishments were able to avail themselves of
trading upon a very large scale, and of their being in con-
stant employment. _ _ _

The discussion was continued by Sir M. Peto, General
Peel, and Captain Jervis.
Mr LAIRD was of opinion that construction and repair
should be carried on in both public and private dockyards.

Mr NEWDEGATE thought tha house was indebted to
Mr Cobden for having elicted a very useful discussion.
The subject then dropped, and the motion for the adjourn-
ment was agreed to.
In reply to a question,
Lord PALMERSTON said the house would meet on
Monday at three o'clock, and sit continuously.
Several bills were forwarded a stage, and the house ad-
joutned at five minutes past two.

THE ASSAULT ON A LADY NEAR GLASGOW.--.-CM
Wednesday the woman and boy who witnessed to some
extent the cruelties perpetrated upon Miss Adie on Satur-
day evening last near Glasgow, appeared before the autho-
rities and made a statement as to their knowledge of the
fac-s of the case already made public. Their statements are
corroborated by the depositions of Miss Adie. e under-
stand that the young lady was on Wednesday no better
than on the previous evening.
In the Foreign and Colonial Produce Ahrllcts
during the last few days there has not been much
animation. Tne public sales of tea have been eon-
chided without any material change as regards
prices. Sugars have been rather dull and have
shown less firmness, While a moderate business has
been reported in coffee, rice, and cocoa without any
material change as r egards values. In the tallow
market there has been a fair business transaction,
at steady rates, for both present and forward
delivery.

THE SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY,

(From the Special Correspondent of the limes.)
RICHMOND, June 20,

The "situation" is greatly changed since my
letter of the 14th inst. Upon that day General
Grant, having torn up the railroad which commus
nicates with his base at White House, and which is
known in Richmond as the" York River Railroad,"
proceeded to transfer his whole army by night down
to the James River, at a point lower down than
Malvern Hill—M'Clellan's harbour of refuge,—,and
began at once to throw men across to the south side.
Upon the 15th a dash was made upon,Gen. Beaure-
gard's lines outside Petersburg, which alarmed him
so much for the safety of the city as to induce him
to summon to Petersburg all his troops which had
previously hemmed in, and confined Butler's forces
to the angle at the confluence of the Appo-
mattox and James. For a few hours there was a
large interval or hiaNs between the force of General
Lee lying on both sides the James River at
Drewry's Bluff and the force of General Beauregard
at Petersburg. Advantage was taken of this oppor.
tunity by the Federals, and the lines of intrench-
ment evacuated by Beauregard's men were occupied
by the enemy before Lee's men had come up. Upon
the 16th the divisions of Pickett and Field (both
belonging to Longatreet's corps, which is com-
manded in his absence by General Anderson) ad-
vanced to regain the lost ground. I was present
as the two hostile lines drew near to each other,
and found myself electrified at perceiving what a
visible accession of enthusiasm there is in the de-
meanour and bearing of the Confederate troops since
last I saw them. It
was positively ludicrous to
witness the efforts of the Confederate officers to
keep their men back, and in compliance with Gene.
ral Lee's orders to prevent their rushing at the
breastworks in front of them. Without awaiting
any regular assault, which, in the impatience of the
" rebels" could not have been much longer delayed,
the Federals beat a hasty retreat, and fell back into
Butler's original works. It is rarely that General
Lee thinks proper to select for special praise any
portion of his army, but the following despatch is
an evidence of his appreciation of the incident which
I have related :

" Clay's House, June 17.

" General—l take great pleasure in presenting to you my
congratulations upon the conduct of the men of your corps.
I believe they will carry anything they are put against.
" We tried very hard to stop Pickett's men from captur-
ing the breastworks of the enemy, but could not do it. I
hope his loss has been small. I am, with great respect,
" Your obedient servant, " R. E. LEE.
" To Lieutenant-General R. 11. Anderson, commanding

Longstree es corps."
._ _ _

It will bo obvious that this despatch, or as I
should more properly phrase it, friendly note, was
never intended for publication, but it will give more
insight into the state of the Southern army at this
moment than columns of description.

Upon the night of the 17th the attack upon
Petersburg, which had commenced upon the 15th,
was resumed with great vigour by General Grant in
person. It is a repetition of the same old story
over and over again ; a tale of heavy assaults made
by densely crowded masses of assailants dashing
against a line of breastworks, sometimes feebly,
sometimes strongly manned, but in all cases recoiling
after submitting to fearful slaughter. Judging
from what I have seen of the fighting of the last
few days, it seems to me difficult to eatimate the
minimum of men that Richmond, with its girdle of
tremendous earthworks, would require to protect
it. It seems certainly not too much to say that any
single corps of the Confederate army would be
amply sufficient to hold the works at Richmond
against any conceivable force that the Federals
could send. Such, it would appear, is the opinion
of Gen. Lee, for within the last week he has sent
away nearly one third of his entire army, under Gen.
Early, in the direction of Lynchburg. It is difficult
to walk about these streets and to realise that you
are in a besieged city, with an army of 100,000 foes,
within at this moment 20, and at an earlier moment
10, miles of the Confederate flag, which floats
proudly from that capitol which Mr Jefferson hoped
would serve to introduce into Virginia a taste for
architecture in the classic style of antiquity. It is
not easy to recognise in the stuccoed and pigeon
holed building which now towers above me an imi-
tation of one of the most perfect models in existence,
the Maison earth° at Nismes.

It is possible that I am mistaken, but it seems to
me that all occasion for apprehension in regard to
Grant's assaults upon either Richmond or Peters-
burg is already completely at an end. It may be
that, with his ample resources of water carriages
the Federal General may harass Gen. Lee by
quickly transferring the N)rthern troaps.from one
side of the river to the other ; but it must be remem-
bered that Gen. Lee is acting and moving always
on the inner circle, and he fs probably better found
in pontoon bridges at this moment than his enemy
imagines. The interest in Gen. Grant, so far as
Richmond is concerned, is already passing away,
eminftaerrefsrotamttas:heinsgtotthhaetwhare
groat dea, of trouble yet. For the
operations
yationnost
moment
ham.
more
a a
in other portions of Virginia.

It is known to your r'aders that the Federal
General capturing Staunton and send-
ing raiding
burl the military institution
Hunter,
part ie
s after
to
at Lexington and insult Stonewall Jackson's grave,
advanced with his main
have for
force in the direction of
L eingalar thet in all military
operationsynchb
arg.
whichlt is
three years been con-
call no instances of celerity and vigour of action
ducted in Virginia by Federal Generals,
I can re-
exceptexhibited in May by General Grant.
It
t iseasy
toseetha
might have taken LS t Hunter, by rapid marches,
nehbarg, and possibly marched
to Danville; but such
pidity of his move has been the snail-like tor-
ments that he allowed Breckin-
from Charlottesville,ridge to throw several thousand men into Lynchburg
with one whole corps from Lee's army. It will be
believed that when' and Early to advance thither
upon the evening of the 17th,
Hunter made a feeble attack upon the earthworks
around Lynchburg he was astonished at the vigour
with which his men Were repulsed. His force is
estimated at 18,000 men ;
the joint forces of Breck«
inridge and Early amount to very much more.
Hunter is said to be
noire in full retreat ; but it is
doubtful whether, if vigorously pursued by the
he will be able to extricate so
large an army from the bowels of Virginia into
Confederate cavalry,
which Plunged. Be this as it may, it is
certain h
thatehas G Grant will get very small aid and com-
fort, as be fames and frets before Petersburg, out
of the co operation of Hunter.

Bu catastrophe than has up to this time
overtaken a
kerrse Hunter
has cut short the career of
another General, in whom Grant is said to repose
great trust, and
from whom a diversion was con.
ference of his own army from the northern bank of
fithdeenctlhyieeksap eeted. Simultaneously with the trans.
horain_ x
to the southern bank of the
James, Grant sent forth General Sheridan at the
head of what was deemed an irresistible cavalry
force, to cross bet Ween the Rappahannock and Rich-
mond, and pass
near direc-
tion of Lynchburg. It was imagined that the
te Charlottesville, in the
finely-appointed squadrons
cavalrySieoeabtiheerrensiatanceto h
was so reduced in numbers and so
poor in equipments as to be likely to oppose but
of General Sheridan ; but it appears that Grant
reckoned without his host. At Trevillian's depot,
upon the Virginia Central Railroad, the combined
forces of Generals Fitzhugh Lee and Wade Hampton
encountered the Federal raiders, and it appears that,
considering the small amount of men engaged, few
more complete victories have been gained in this war
than the one which is now put to the credit of the
two succeEeo:s to General Stuart. Sheridan is said
to be on the northern
bank of the Pamunkey,
greatly shattered, and unable to cross in the face
of the victorious Confederates upon the southern
bank. No relief or assistance can be looked for by
General Grant from this quarter. What will he do
next ?

It is my belief that the prospects of the Confede-
rates are at this moment far more in jeopardy in
the neighbourhood of Atlanta than in any other
quarter. It is scarcely probable that the interval
before the 4th of July can pass without witnessing
a great battle between Sherman and Johnston. But
it is certain that there will very shortly be Confede-
rate troops in abundance, set free by the quadruple
failure of Grant, Butler, Hunter, and Sheridan, who

will, before the summer has passed, exercise a very
powerful influence over the fortunes of the Western
campaign, and give a bias to the future destinies of
the State of Tennessee for all comirg time.