The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-25 00:00:00

IMPERIAL FARLIARIENT

HOUSE OF COMMONS--Yesterday.
The SPEARER took the chair shortly after 12 o'clock.
RENTS (IRELAND) BILL.

On the motion of Mr. LONGFIELD the order for the
second reading of this bill was discharged, with the under-
standing that the measure should be originated in the
House of Lords as previously.

LANDED PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT (IRE-
LAND) ACT AMENDMENT BILL.

In consequence of the absence of Irish members at the
assizes the second reading
_of the bill was postponed until
April 27.
MALT FOR CATTLE BILL.
On the motion for going into committee on this bill,

Mr. BASS objected to the measure, and said
that its nature was not properly understood through-
out the country, and was regarded by the farmers
with great dissatisfaction. He denied that the Chancellor
of the Exchequer had made out a satisfactory case for this
bill, The right hon. gentleman said that the duty on beer
was 25 per cent., but the farmers calculated that it amounted
to 75 per cent., and although he (the Chancellor of the
Exchequer) said that the duty en foreign wines which came
into competition with beer was from 50 to 100 per cent., he
(Mr. Bass) from information received from the highest
authorities on this subject in London was led to the con-
clusion that the duty on the foreign wines amounted to not
more than 27 per cent. He (Mr. Bass) therefore submitted
that this was a reasonable argument why the duty on beer
which the Chancellor of the Exchequer said was 2.5 per
cent. should be reduced one half, (Hear, hear.)
He was convinced that the measure of the Chancellor of
the Exchequer would not prove satisfactory, in whatever
light it was regarded, and that the only remedy for the
grievance of which the right hon. gentleman complained
was to reduce the malt duty one half.
Mr. DU CANE said that, during the interval between the
present time and the second reading of the bill, he had com-
municated with his constituency (an agricultural one), who
were unanimous with regard to this measure, and their opi-
nion might be summed up in one word, namely, that the
more they looked at it the less they liked it. (Hear, hear.)
He considered that if anything was calculated to make male-
sters rogues this bill would elLetually do it, because it held
forth to them a premium for the adulteration of linseed.
Before concluding he would quote the words of a poet with
whom the right hon. gentleman (the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer was familiar :
" Timeo Dannas et dona ferextes."
(Laughter.)
Colonel DICKSON, as the representative of an agricul
tural constituency, said he bad not heard. one sound argu-
ment in favour of the bill. In reference to Ireland, to which
allusion had been made on a previous occasion, he contended
that the causes to which the agricultural distress in that
country might be traced would be aggravated by this mea-
sure, which bo bound to oppose.
Mr. P. URQUITA.RT °apposed.

Mr. BEACH support:Ed the bill.
Mr. HENLEY considered that the bill would be quite
inoperative, and ho protested against its being accepted
as an answer to the demand that was made for the reduc-
tion in the duty on malt, _ _ _

Mr. DODSON said that the bill was introduced merely
as an experimental measure, and if it proved successful it
would no doubt lead to further facilities for the use of malt
as an article of food.

Mr. DUTTON approved going into committee, but at
the same time considered that the bill was encumbered with
difficulties, which were inevitable in dealing with this sub-
ject.
Mr BENTINCK was of opinion that unless!those portions
of the bill which provided for the visits of excisemen and
for seperate houses for malting were withdrawn, the mea-
sure ought to be thrown out on the third reading. He
did not consider that the bill would satisfy the desire of
the public in reference to the malt duty.
Mr WALTER was not sanguine as to the success of the
bill, but he thought it should have a fair trial.

After some further discussion,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER defended
the bill. It was said that there was safety in a multi-
tude of counsellors, and the same might be as •
sorted of the multitude of the enemies to this
bill who were knocking their heads together as if to ascer-
tain which were the hardest,- and he had no doubt in the
end justice would be done. (Laughter.) The right
hon. gentleman ,then combatted at length the arguments
against the bill, which were to the eff ct that it was inef-
ficient, a surrepititious method of getting rid of the desire
for the entire repeal of the duty on malt, that it was sur-
rounded with insuperable obstacles and was dangerous
with regard to revenue. Ao related to the latter, the
Government were responsible for the raising of the revenue
for the public service, and they could not consent to the
amendments that were on the paper. He would be most
happy to release the forma from excise restrictions, but by
doing so in this case ho would be surrendering £5,000,000
revenue. The opinion of farmers was divided in reference
to this bill, and although it might not effect all the benefit
desirable, he contended that it would do much service,
The house than went into committee on the bill.
Sir E. DERING moved the following clause :—That it
shall be lawful for all persons engaged in agriculture to
malt barley (according to the provisions of the act) for the
consumption of their own stook, without taking out a
maltster's licence, but it was subsequently postponed.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
he would move that the Chairman should now report pro-
gress, and he proposed to proceed with the committee next
Friday, but not at an hour that would be inconvenient.
The house then resumed.

INSANE PRISONERS ACT AMENDMENT BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
Tho house adjourned at a quarter past 3 o'clock.

THE NATIONAL POLISH LEAGUZ.—A general
meeting of the members of this league was held last
evening at the Whittington Club, Strand—Mr. Edmond
Beales in the chair. Mr. J. It. Taylor, the hon. secretary
read a mass of correspondence from all parts of the country,
breathing a spirit of sympathy for Poland, amongst other
letters from the Earl of Shaftesbury, and from H. Datrone,
secretary to the Polish Central Committee in Paris. He
also reported the receipt of a large number of extensively
signed petitions in favour of tho recegnition of the bellige-
rent rights of Poland, and that a great number were still in
circulation throughout the 'United Kingdom. When these
were all collected stops would be taken to get them pre-
sented to Parliament at a favourable opportunity. The usual
routine business of the league having been transacted, the
chairman said he desired to put the league in possession of
the latest authentic news he had received from Poland. It
would, of course, not be wise for him to enter into details,
but he could state upon authority that the insurrection
was now in a more hopeful state than it had been at any
time since its commencement. The whole nation—aristo-
cracy, middle classes, and the peasantry—were now united
as one man, and early in the spring a numerously and well
equipped Polish national army would be in the field ready
to take advantage of those complications which must of
necessity arise in Europe during- the next few'monthe. An
outbreak in Italy and Hungary might be looked for at any
moment, and the Polish leaders were watching events,
although not idle, as the telegrams would inform them. Ho
hoped that before three months had passed away the cause
of Polish nationality would be on the eve of its triumph.
(Loud cheers) A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded
the meeting.
THE EMPEROR or RUSSIA is said to be expected
in Be►lin ere long.

Brighton 2
Brighton Club
Lewes
Reading
Egham
Oxford .. 18
Yarmouth

SE PTE:

Weymouth
Warwick September 6
Leicester .. 8
Doncaster ..
Bream .. 19

OCT,

Northallerton 6
Newmarket second Oct lO

York August 23
Plymouth
Derby
Lichfield 3O
Stockton
Devon and Exeter

Richmond
Monmouth 22
Manchester Autumn
Newmarket First October 27

IBER.

Gloucester
Newmarket Houghton 24

NOVEMBER.

Shrewsbury Autumn .. 14 I Worcester Autumn 30
Leamington & War. Hunt 22
STEEPLECHASING FIXTURES FOR 1864.

MARCH.
Grand Military (Rugby Hunt).. l4
APRIL.

Ab ergavenny

NOVEMBER.

Leamington and Warwickshire Hunt 22

The Price of Gold.

The quotation of gold at Paris is about 4 per mine pm., and
the short exchange on London is 25.35 per £1 sterling. On
comparing these rates with the English Mint price of £3
17s. 100. per ounce for standard gold, it appears that gold is
about 3-10ths per cent. dearer in London than in Paris.
By ads ices fromllamburg the price of gold is 4231 per mark
and the short exchange on London is 13.41 per .C 1 sterling,,
Standard gold at the English hint price is, therefore, rather
more than 2-10ths per cent. dearer in London than in Ham-
burg,

The course of exchange at New York on London for bills at
60 days' sight is 174 to 175 per cent., and the premium on
gold is about b 0 per cent. At these rates there is a profit
on the importation of gold from the United States.

TRAFFIC RECEIPTS FOR THE WEEK.
Miles Opened. Receipts.

Railways.

1863. 17874 T. 1863:4
£ £
Belfast and N. Counties 136 136 1,815 1.712
Belfast and County Down 49 49 (61 665
Myth and Tne 2B 28 1,331 1,458
Bristol and Exeter l2ll 1211 5,073 5,268
Caledonian
Cockermouth & Workington Bl 81
Cork and Bandon 2O 20 280 !i0.3
Cork, B/ackrock, & Passage.• • 61 61 112 154
Cork and Youghai .. 321 321 357 317
Cornwall 651 51 1,368 1,108
Deeside l7 17 246 219
Dublin & Belfast J unction 63 63 1,21;8 1,258
Dublin and Drogheda 75 63 1,466 1,521
Dublin and Meath
Dub. & Wicklow and Woad 9ll 481 2,116 1.552
Edinburgh and Gllasgow 1691 16'4 7,625 6,981
Furness, &c 5O 5 ) 3,033 2,691
Glasgow & South-Western
Gt. Eastern,Nrik.,&E.Union
__ _

1304.

Great Northern 353 351 28,691 25:779
Great North of Scotland 5B 5t3 1,583 1,602
tit. Northu. & Westn. (Irel.) 7ll 711 401 460
Gt.Southn. & Westn.(lrind.) 3731 329 6,963 6,991
Great Western „ 10561 10321 55,216 52.177
. .

_
Inverness & Aberdeen June 86i 862 t 316
Inverness & Perth Junction 119.1 913
Irish North-Western 145 145 1,5.46 1,695
Lancashire & Yorkshire 402 395* 34,657 31,150
Limerick and Ennis... 24/ 24f 154 175
Limerick and Foynes 26i 262 153 139
Llanelly 461 461 500 446
London & North-Western
London and Blackwall 5 51 1,612 1,655
London & South-Western
Loud. Brighton, &S. Coast 251/ 2612 13,763 15,t 08
Loudon. Chatham, & Dover 72} 72} 3,510 2 710
Do. aletropolitan Extension 102 5} t 25 9-
--, 0
Loud., Tilbury, & Southend
Alan,,Sheflield,& Lincolnsh
Manch. 5...1 un.& Altrincham 9
Maryport and Carlisle
23 14 54,4
Oi 1,147 3,otiC)
Metropolitan
Midland (incl. N.-Western) 641 6,3 u 1461 2092
13,169 38,943

The last week's raiLway receipts, ascertained up
fo this day, are, in round figures, as under :

1864. 1863.
Great 'Western .................... £53,463 L 50,243
North-Western ............
South-Western
............. 16,952 17,091
Brighton .........
................
South Eastern
Great Northern
Lancashire and Yorkshire..•
Bristol and Exeter ......
5,219 5,236
Great Eastern
North Eastern
Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire 16,255 14,249
Midland and Great Western of Ireland
8,443 8,n9
Glasgow and South-Western

returns, compared with those of the aim°
Period of last year, are with one or two exceptions
very favourable. On the pleasua.-e IIIICU there is a
falling off—viz., on the Brighton of £143, on the
South Western of £132, and on the South Eastern
of £264. The Great Western, however, shows an
51,
a:
sln9hat
och.;
Yorkshire
ehoiGert.:r:Nes
haotirrtNeh
ofojr?, at hsxtee3i,n6n2voort,:
increase of £3,225, the North Western of £8,164 ;
xtt£hh34e:,o7G62.;7l:i,
adtttlhha
the Manchester,
;Midla=nd
xis atanoenrfc
ena
oe3sfi
tr3ee£:
and L
£2,015, and the Glacgow and SouthlinVceosltne;:rfi
of 1241.
ANALYSIS OF TUESDAY'S DIVISION: Tile onl7
English " Liberals," says a morning contemporary,
who voted against the Government in the above, impottant
division were Messrs. Lindsay, Roebuck, and Sir
U. Clif-
ton. These were joined by fear Irish "Libor:Ts,"
Sulli-
vir..,
M essrs. J. Blake, M. Hassard,
van. Among those who voted with the Government wero
Government
and E.
five Conservatives, viz., Col. ADnesley, .Antrobus, T
Baring, C. W. Finch, and IL. E. Harvey.
ger M
ald r. Diassraeli
did
went into the lobby with mr. Seymour F
Lord Stanley- Mr. Bentinck, who nowsits below the gang-
way on the Cons.crvativo side, inste:ld of Love the
way, as on previon; sessicn9, and Mr. NcWdegae
absent,