The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-16 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening.

Lord PALMERSTON stated, in reply to Mr Osborne,
that there was no present intention to appoint a consul at
Rio, and that Mr Horgan, our consul at Bahia, would ad
interim, transact the consular business there. lie also said
that the Government did not intend proposing the repeal
of the Government Aot of 1815 relative to tha Brazilian
slave trade.

On the order for going into committee of supply a con-
versation of a brief and desultory character was raised by
Mr Baillie Cochrane, respecting the conditions upon which
the lonian Islands have been annexed to Greece, and the
convention between her Majesty and the King of the
ilellenes, with regard to the claims of British subjects and
others.

Mr LAYARD stated that he hoped the Greek Govern-
ment would do justice to the pensioners ; and as to the
bondholders he trusted also that some satisfactory arrange-
ment would be entered into with them ; but he did not
think her Majesty's Government was bound to interfere
between th 3 Government of Greece and its private credi-
tors.
Amongst the other subjects discussed on the motion for
supply were the allegedill-treatment of a pauper lunatic
hi the Clonmel Lunatic Asylum ; the resolutions of the
union assessment committees aid the necessity of assisting
their operations, and the unsatisfied claims of British sub-
jects on the Government of Portugal.
SUPPLY'
The house went into committee of supply.
On the vote of £7,141 for scientific works and caper',
merits,

Mr A. SMITH expressed his distrust of the weather
forecasts issued by the Board of Trade, and said he had
taken the trouble to go through the tables, and he found
them to be exactly twice wrong to once right. He wished
to know whether any instructions were given to the vessels
of the Admiralty to be goverzsp3
by the forecasts issued by
the Board of Trade,

Lord C. PAGET belie7ed he wag expressing the opinion
of almost every seafaring man in thitthe remarks the hon. gentleman had country when when he said
with regard to
Admiral Fitzroy's signals were very 7
t infancy,
Fitzroy had told them this system was still in .I.dmiral
but the
and wanted a great deal to bring it to
fact was, other countries were joining us in these
Lions, and we had daily communication with most of
e
observatories of Europe. With respect to the vesselsof
Admiralty, he should think if a ship went to sea when theth6
bad weather eignals were hoisted the officer of that ship
was to blame. Great satisfaction with the system had been
expressed by people on the sea-coast, anti he thought it
would be most unwise to check it.
Mr DILLWYN did not object to the drums, but he
thought the forecasts were useless.
Mr LAIRD believed the observations of Admiral Fitz-
roy.were of great importance, and had been the means of
easraig a great deal of life and property.

Th! vote Wag then agreed to.
A vote of £5OO for the Geographical Society was

agreed to.
A vote of I,COOtor the Rgyal Society was also agreed to.
On the vote of £5OO for the Royal Academy of Music,
Mr B. OSBORNE r.sk2d for an explanation of the vote.
Mr F. PEEL said the Academy afforded instruction to

persons wishing to make music their profession. It was
partially supported by public subscriptions, and partly by
the fees of the pupils, and he trusted the house would not
begrudge the small sum of public money that was!given to it.
Mr. B. OSBORNE remarked that this Academy was a
private institution. They had been occupie I during the pre-
sent session in putting an end to street ,tee c, which was
for the benefit of poor people, but the fact was that the house
was becoming a rich man's club. This vote of £5OO to the
Academy of Music would, if agreed to, probably go on in-
creasing year by year. This was merely an attempt on the
part of a few amateurs to indulge their own taste at the ex-
pense of the public taxpayers, and he therefore had no hesi-
tation in moving the rejection of the vote.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER denied that
this was a private institution, unless the term could be ap-
plied to the multitude of institutions to which the house
gave assistance—such, for instance, as the Royal Geogra-
phical Society, This was only an experimental vote, and
was for the purpose of enabling the Academy to obtain ade-
quate public support. If they failed in doing so, of course
the vote would not be continued.
Mr AYRTON supported the amendment. and contended
that if they were to give this grant to the Academy of Music
' in London, there would be demands from Dublin and Edin-
burgh for similar grants. It was evident from the tone of
the memorial presented by the Academy, that the memo-
rialists did not concur in the limited view of the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, for they expressed a hope that the day
would come when music would take the same ground here
as it did in other nations where the Government entirely
supported such institutions. He thought as the higher
classes were depriving the lower classes of music that they
should pay for their own luxury.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER wished to
explain that he did not think it would be unwise in thst
house to recognise the claims of Dublin and Edinburgh, in
case the present experimental vote should be sanctioned by
Parliament in a future year. He trusted the hon. member
for the Tower Hamlets would not propagate the fallacy that
this vote was a matter as between the higher and lower
classes. It was nothing of the kind, but would rather be
for the benefit of the middle classes. (Hear, hear.)
Mr CLAY supported the vote on the ground that within
his own experience a taste for music had been largely de-
veloped in this country, which was in a great measure due
to the Royal Academy of Music.
Col. DUNNE wished to know whether it would be regu-
lar for him to move that a similar grant be made to Dublin.
(Laughter,)
Mr A. SMITH objected to the principle upon which the
vote was based, and thought the less Government assistance
music received the better it would flourish.
Mr S. NORTHCOTE remarked that increased expendi-
ture meant increased taxation, and he must own he was op-
posed to the principle of creating new burdens.
Mr DILLWYN said the votes just given to the Royal
Geographical and Royal Societies were for special and use-
ful purposes, but this vote bore no analogy to them, and he
objected to it both on account of its paternal character, and
its interference with voluntary efforts.
Mr ADDERLEY justified the vote on the ground that
it was the duty of the Government to cultivate the taste of
the nation in art until that taste became self-supporting.
Mr OSBORNE said this was a private society, instituted
40 years ago by the Earl of Westmoreland and several
noblemen and gentlemen, with the encouragement of his
Majesty George IV. (A laugh,) It had gene on without
any assistance since that time, but now, in 1864, a band of
musicians waited on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and
said unless he gave them something they would be obliged
to close the doors. The next thing would be a vote for the
encouragement of dancing. If the house wanted this aca-
demy to be more than a rich man's club, they must resoe
lutely vote against £5OO being given to a bankrupt society.
Sir J. PAKINGTON supported the vote, which he said
was in favour of an institution which had produced some of
the best of our public singers.
Mr SCLATER-BOOTH denied that the science of music
stood in need of assistance.
Mr HENNESSY protested against the Chancellor of the
Exchequer offering the Irish members a grant for music at
a time when, through his mismanagement, their country
was going to wreck and ruin, and the people were flying
away from tt. (Oh, oh,)
Sir G. BOWYER said the science of music was in an in-
fent state in this country, and ought to be encouraged.
The committee divided—

Ayes 52
Noes
Majority in favour of the vote —lo
The following votes were then agreed to :—For Salaries
of Custom-house Clerks, for Salaries in Island Revenue
Department, and for Salaries of Post-office Department,
The CHAIRMAN reported progress, and the house
resumed.

FORTIFICATIONS AND WORKS.
The report on the resolution relating to fortifications and
works was brought up and agreed to, and leave was given
to bring in a bill on the subject.
TURNPIKE TRUSTS ARRANGEMENTS BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
PUBLIC WORKS (MANUFACTURING DIS-
TRICTS) BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
WESTMINSTER BRIDGE TRAFFIC BILL,
This bill was read a second time.
WAYS AND MEANS.
The report of the committee of ways and means autho-
rising the raising of .E 1,600,000 for paying off the like
amount of Exchequer bills, was brought up and agreed to.
The lonian States Acts of Parliament Repeal Bill was
read a third time and passed.
The Harwich Harbour Act Amendment Bill was read, g
third time and passed.
The Bank Notes, &c , Signature Bill passed through
committee,
The Drainage and Improvement of Lands (Ireland) Sup-
plemental Bill was read a second time.
The Scottish Episcopal Clergy Disabilities Removal Bill
passed through committee.
The Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Acts Amendment Bill
was read a second time.
Justices.' Proceedings Confirmation (Sussex) Bill passed
through committee,
Mr BARING obtained leave to introduce a bill to
amend the Metropolis Marla
1862. gement Amendment Act,

Mr LOCEE obtained leave to introduce a bill to amend
the laws relating to the hackney carriages of the metropolis
and the proprietors and drivers thereof.
Sir C. WOOD obtained leave to introduce a bill to repeal
certain parts of the Acts of the 16th and 17th years of her
Majesty, chapter 95, and to make provision for the medical
service of her Majesty's Indian forces.
Mr N. GIBSON, in committee of the whole house, ob-
tained leave to introduce a bill to amend the law relating to
publication of the accounts of corn imported, and to returns
of purchases and sales of corn.
Mr C. FORTESCUE obtained leave to introduce a bill
to amend the West Indian Encumbered Estates Act.
The hence adjourned at ten minutes past two o'clock.