The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-09 00:00:00

PRIVY COUNCIL

ESSAYS AND REV IEWS—THE JUDGMENT.
Yesterday the judgment in the case of the authors
in the .
of Essays and Reviews was given Privy Council
It was originally tried in the Court
of Arches, in which
judgment went against the Rev. Mr.
Wilson and the Rev.
Mr. Williams, and from this decision the present appeal wea
brought.
Their lordships gave their judgment in favour ,f
tl
appollants.

KIPEILIAL PARLIAMENT

-o-

HOUSE or LORDS— Last Evening,
Loirn CILA.NcELLOB. took his seat on the woolsack

e u'elock.

'i'he house sat fora quarter of an hour, but no business
sail transacted, and their lordships then adjourned..

HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening,
The SPEAKEIt took the chair at four o'clock.

PETITIONS.
Petitions were presented by Sir J. SHELLEY, signed by
1,000 persons, in favour of the reduction of the duty on fire
inu:aners, and several other petitions to the same effect
were also presented from different parts of the country.

SOOCHOW.
Ca SYKES gave notice that on the 16th he would call
the attention of the house to the proceedings at Shanghai,
when all the consuls resident expressed their abhorrence
of the conduct of the Futai at Soochow, and to ask' the
First Lord of the Treasury as to what course would be pur-
sued in order to prevent a recurrence of the events which
were so much to be deplored.
PARISH VESTRIES (IRELAND).
Sir R. PEEL gave notice that he would move for leave
to introduce a bill to amend the law relating to parishes and
vestries in Ireland,
WAREHOUSING SPIRITS.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER gave
notice that he would postpone bringing forward this subject
rem Thursday until Monday, the 15th.
LAW OF SETTLEMENT.
Mr, WARNER gave notice that on Friday next he
would call the attention of the house to the Law of Settle-
ment as it affected the poor.
NEW WRIT.
Oa the motion of Mr. BRAND, a new writ was ordered
to issue fcr the election of a member for Brighton, in the
room of Mr. Conin,gliam, who has accepted the Chiltern
Hundreds.
COLLECTION OF INCOME TAX.
Mr. WAB.NER asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
whether ho was aware that it had been found necessary in
some cases to resort to a voluntary rate in order to provide
for the collection of the income tax by parochial officers ;
and whether he would consider the propriety of adopting a
regular system ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
he was aware there was a necessity for amendment in the
collection of the income tax, and the subject was under the
consideration of Government.
CHINA.
Mr. W, E. FOSTER asked the Under Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs whether it was true that the town of
Soochow in China had been taken from the Taepings by
help of her Majesty's officers employed by the Imperialists
with the sanction of her Majesty's Government; whether
also the Imperialists were aided by supplies from her Ma-
jesty's arsenals, and whether the town thus taken was de-
live,•ed over to pillage and massacre by the Imperialist
troops notwithstanding the protest, and contrary to the
pledge of the British officer in command ; and if so, whether
any and what steps had been taken by her Majesty's Go-
vernment to withdraw their assistance to the Pekin Go-

eminent.
Mr. LAYARD said that the Government was not at
present in possession of the necessary information on the
subject, but he was informed from Shanghai that Colonel
Brown was about to investigate the subject,
SOOCHOW.

Lord NAGS asked the tinder-Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs whether any despatches had been received
during the recess from Sir Frederick Bruce relative to the
state of affairs in China ; and whether the Government have
received any official accounts of the proceedings of the
Chinese force under the command of Major Gordon of the
Loyal Engineers ; and, if so, whether he would lay them
upon the table of the house ; also, whether he
Would lay upon the table all the documents
in possession of the Government relative to the dis-
missal of Mr. Lay from the service of the Emperor of China
and the withdrawal from the Chinese waters of the fleet
lately under the command of Captain Sherard Osborne, of
the Roy al Navy.
Mr. LAYARD said the papers in question would be laid
on the table, and at present he was unable to gave the in-
formation required respecting Mr. Lay.

SC HLE S WIG-HOLSTEIN.
Ia reply to Lord H. CECIL,
Lord PALMERSTON said the Government had re-
monstrated with the Governments of Prussia and Austria with
respect to the pioceedings adopted relative to Prince Angus-
tenburg, on the ground that those proceedings were totally
inconsistent with the treaty of 1852, to which both these
Powers were parties. The Prussian Government had
stated their intention to abide by that treaty and
maintain the integrity of the Danish Monarchy. It was
announced also that the Prussian and Austrian Govern-
ramts were ready to discuss any questions that
might arise with the other powers that were
pat tie to the treaty. It was asserted that the resistance
at Schleswig and the hostilities that ensued terminated the
obligations of that treaty. He utterly denied that doctrine.
(Ilear, hear.) If it were adopted, a strong power would have
nothing to do but to make an unprovoked assault on a
Power and say that their own act had put an end to any
treaty. He repeated what lie had already said, that the
krussian Government avowed their intention to maintain
the integrity of the Daiiish'kitigelom. (Hear, hear.)
'lHid LORDS CONI'MISSiONERS' SPEECH.
On the motion for the adoption of that portion of the
Speech which relates to the estimates,
Mr. BENTINOK expressed a hope that the military
forces of this country, and more particularly the cavalry,
would be maintained in a state of efficiency. He expressed
a hope also that the Government would viva the house an
assurance that this country would not be drawn into war.
Lord PALMERSTON said he thought the subject of
the tfacieacy of our troops should have been postponed
until the army estimates were brought forward. He had
too much confidence in the spirit and resources of the
country that it would not be prepared for any emergency
that might arise. With regard to the other portion of the
honourable member's observations, he must decline giving
any information as to what course Government would pursue
under seine future state of circumstances, and ho declined
to play the part of prophet. (Laughter.) If it were neces-
sary to make an...armed demonstration the country pos-
scssed strength ,and energy sufficient for the occasion.
(Hear, hear.).

Thu Illotioa was then agreed to.
SIB, J. LAWRENCE'S ANNUITY.

tho motion of Sir C. \VooD, the resolution of corn-
ztee that the pension to Sir J. Lawrence should be con-
tinued, which was seconded by Lord STANLEY, and sup-
ported by Colonel SYKES, was agreed to.
MALT DUIY.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER obtained
leave to bring in a bill to allow the making of malt duly
free to be used in the feeding of cattle, and explained that he
c,niy asked for a permissive measure for two years.
TREA.TAIENT OF CRIMINAL LUNATICS.