The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-23 00:00:00

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills were read a second time :—Amicable
Life Assurance, London Docks, St. Katherine's Dock
and Victoria Dock Amalgamation, Victoria (London)
Docks, Albert Bridge and Approaches, Cheltenham Water-
works, Liverpool Exchange, London Necropolis and Na-
tional Mausoleum, Ulverston Gas, and Waterford and
Limerick, Limerick and Foynes, and Rathkeale and New-
castle Junction Railways.
THE METROPOLITAN RAILWAY SCHEMES.

The Earl of DONOUGHMORE called the attention of
the noble earl, the President of the Council, to a paragraph
which appeared in the Times of that morning, giving
what appeared to be the result of the deliberations
of the joint committee appointed to consider the
whole of the schemes of metropolitan rail-
ways. He felt that it was exceedingly undesirable that
any premature information on such a subject should be
given to the public, because it would affect to a consider-
able extent the value of the shares in many of those under-
takings. He was certain that the noble earl had not given
his sanction to the publication of such a paragraph, and he
should like to give him an opportunity of saying so in his
place in Parliament,
Earl GRANVILLE said the committee in question had
not only not made their report, but had not concluded their
deliberations, so that the announcement contained in the
paragraph was altogether premature.
THE PROPOSED ROYAL ARCADE.

On the motion for the second reading of this bill,
The Bishop of LONDON presented petitions against the
bill.

Earl DERBY presented two petitions, most numerously
signed, also against the bill, and moved the rejection of the
measure. He said the scheme in question was opposed
most strenuously by a great number of the residents, both
in Regent-street and Broad-street, who considered that the
scheme, instead of being, as it was stated, a great
improvement, would be precisely the reverse. The
cost of the propvacd nroada was £-100,000, and
was mainly promoted by Mr. Gressett, the great con -
tractor, Mr. Smith a builder, and Mr. Rolt, the timber
merchant, while the inhabitants in the neighbourhood were
entirely averse to the scheme. Their lordships would recol-
iect that the covered way which existed some short time
ago in Regent-street was removed principally in conse-
quence of the questionable company which collected there,
and if the proposed arcade was allowed to be made the same
evil would again prevail, Another reason that should weigh
with their lordships was that, it would entirely destroy the
Burlington School, which was an institution of the greatest
value. The Messrs. Lewis and Allenby who carried on an
extensive business in the neighbourhood said that the loss
to them if the arcade was made would be such that they would
rather pay down a sum of £lO,OOO than the scheme should
be carried into execution. There was not one person whose
property was affected by the project who had not objected
to it. He thought the wishes of the owners of property in
the neighbourhood ought to be considered as well as those
of the three highly respectable gentlemen who were the
main promoters of the measure, and that too for speculative
purposes. He thought its opponents should not be put to
the expenses of opposing the bill in committee that he
moved its rejection on its second leading.

Earl ST. GERMANS said although the vestry of St.
George's, Hanover-square, had not yet petitioned against
tho bill, they intended doing so.
After a few words from several noble lords, the motion
was negatived without a division.
THE:WAR IN AMERICA,

Lord STRATHEDEN inquired of the Secretary of
State for War whether her Majesty's Government proposed
to send commissioners to report on the military operations
of the Confeeieracy as well as send commissioners to report
upon the military operations of the United States ?
Earl DE GREY said her Majesty's Government did not
think it advisable to send any officers on such an expedi-
titra.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening.
The SPEAKER took the chair shortly before 4 o'clock.
CONSTABULARY (IRELAND).

On the motion of Sir H. BRII6E, copies of instructions

to the Irish constabulary in force in January, 1858, with
. regard to the protection of life and property in Ireland
during the night, and also any instructions of a similar
character between that date and January, 1864,were ordered.
COAST LIGHTS IN SCHLESWIG.
Mr. BENTINCK asked the President of the Board of
Trade whether her Majesty's Government had received
any confirmation of a statement which had appeared
in the public journals, to the effect that the Prussian
authorities in Schleswig have extinguished all the
coast lights in Ithat locality on the shores of the
Baltic; and, if so, whether British shipping would not be
exposed to great inconvenience and risk in consequence of
that proceeding; and whether, in the opinion of her Ma-
jesty's Government, such a proceeding was in accordance
with the usages of civilised warfare, in cases where the
safety of neutral vessels is thereby compromised.

Mr. M. GIBSON said that the Government were not in

possession of information on the subject, and he believed
that belligerent States would take care of their interests
without reference to those of neutral powers. (Laughter.)

THE KERTCH PRIZE MONEY.

In reply to Mr. EWART,
Mr. HUTT said that these prizes would shortly be
distributed.

NAVY ESTIMATES,

In reply to Mr. BENTINCY,

Lord C. PAGET said he must appeal to hon. members
not to press their motions on this subject until after he had
explained the policy which the Ministry thought it right to
adopt in reference to it.