The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-06 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAI IYIENT

HOUSE OP COMMONS—Last E vening,
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.,
The following bills were read a third time and passed :
Trough Ferry Road, East Indian Railway, Edinburgh and
Leith Sewerage, Great Northern Railway (No. 1) (Barnet
Branch, &c.), London and South Western Railway
(Chertsey Extension), Midland Railway (Chesterfield to
Sheffield), Moira and Greeley Road, West Shropshire
Mineral Railway (Branches, &c.), and West Shropshire
Mineral Railway (New Lines).
THE VOTES FOR PROMOTION OF ARTS AND
SCIENCES.

Mr. GREGORY gave notice that on the civil service
estimates being proceeded with he would move that the sum
proposed for the purpose of science and arts, namely £16,000,.
should be reduced.
CORRESPONDENCE ON THE AFFAIRS OF
SIAM. .

In reply to Sir J. HAY,
Sir C. WOOD said he had received some further corre-
spondence on the affairs of Siam and Tuanganu, which, he
hoped shortly to be able to lay on the table.
TENURE AND IMPROVEMENT OF LAND IN
IRELAND.

Mr. MAGUIRE asked Mr. Attorney-General for Ir e-
land, whether he considered the Tenure and Improvement
of Land Act of 1860 a sufficient protection for the Irish
tenant, and a sufficient inducement to the expenditure of
the tenant's capital, labour, and skill in effecting improve-
ments ; and if he considered the existing law to be deficient,
either as a stimulus to increased exertion or as a
protection for the enjoyment of its results, was he prepared
to advise her Majesty's Government to introduce a measure,
either now or at a future time, with a view to its amend-
ment.
Mr. O'HAGAN said that the present question was one
of a rather novel nature, and he regretted to say that he did
not think the act of 1860 would have the operation indicated
in the question, as it had practically failed in reference to
Ireland, as appeared trona the official report. He could
not give any opinion as to so important a subject as the
present without stating his reasons, which he understood
was opposed to the practice of the house. As regarded the
other part of the question, he could only say, that in any-
thing he advised he would be dictated by a desire to pro-
mote the interests of Ireland.
MBDIA.TION
H OF THE KING OF PORTUGAL IN
TE AFFAIRS OF BRAZIL.

Mr. MACAULAY asked the Under Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs whether it was true that the Brazilian
Government, since hiideclaration made in February that her
Majesty's Government had from the beginning accepted the
proposed mediation or good offices of the King of Portugal,
have now signified their acceptance ; whether the King of
Portugal adhered to his offer; whether it was an offer of
mediation or good offices : whether any communication had
been received by her Majesty's Government from that of
Brazil in reply to the following passage in Earl Russell's
despatch of June 6, 1863, on suspendingdiplomatic relations:
" Her Majesty's Government hope that the Government of
Brazil will, in its future intercourse with Great Britain,
through whatever channel that intercourse may be carried
on, act with that courtesy which is usual between Govern-
ments; and also that the Brazilian Government will, with-
out further delay, frankly enter into the communication of
their views as to the means by which a settlement of the
long pending claims may best be arrived at and whether
there is any objection to presenting to Parliament the cor-
respondence about British claims on Brazil, as the Brazilian
Government had laid the cm respondence before theßrazilian
Legislature, and statements founded on that publication
have appeared in England.
Mr. LAYARD said, with regard to the first question, the
Government had not received any official information, but
he understood that the King of Portugal was ready to give
his services as the mediator alluded to. He believed
that the Brazilian Government would shortly make an
official communication on the subject. As related to the
third question, he thought it would be better not to give
any explanation at present, as there were reasons to believe
that amicable relations between the two countries would be
shortly resumed.