The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-31 00:00:00

THE GAOLS BILL.

In reply to Mr. NEWDEGATE,
Sir G. GREY said that he proposed to proceed with this
bill as quickly as possible as the other house was desirous
that it should be sent up to them for consideration as soon
as possible.

THE STEAM RAMS.
Mr HODGKINSON—In reference to Mr Solicitor. Gene-
ral's statement in the Court of Exchequer on Thursday last,
that the case of the A.ttorney-General v. Laird, and others,
re:Wive to the seizure of the Confederate rams, had been
arranged, asked Mr Attorney-General whether the
arrangement alluded to involved the purchase of
those vessels ; and, if so, whether only at their fair value or
at some higher
price; whether the inducement to the Crown
to make such arrangement was a doubt as to the construc-
tion and application of the provisions of the Foreign En-
listment Act with regard to equipping and arming vessels;
whether it was part of the terms et arrangement that the
alleged misdemeanour under the seventh section of the
Foreign Enlistment Act should be condoned by the
Crown, and that no claim for compensation for the
Beim.: should be made by the defendants ; and,
whether any legislation would be proposed in order to
obviate in future the doubts and difficulties attending the
construction and enforcing of the Foreign Enlistment
Act, and thus prevent the arrangement of the recent case
operating as a premium to ship builders to speculate on
building vessels of war for belligerents.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that the house
was probably aware that in the month of September
just prior to the seizure of the vessels named, persons who
,q7esented themselves as their owners, made overtures to
the Government for their purchase, which were refused,
but these were rejected on the ground that the amount

asked exceeded their value. The Government, acting on
the it .formation received from the Admiralty, agreed to
punt. iase the vessels at a much larger price than was asked,
the 1 anderstanding being that there was no admission made
by 'alleged owners of any misdemeanour, or any admission
on tine part of the Government that such misdemeanour had
not been committed. The Government had not acted upon
a belief that their case would not succeed, but from a desire
to terminate the controversy relative to a very im-
portant subject, the continuance of which might
be ?attended with very injurious consequences.
There was no condonation of the misdemeanour by the
Crown, and under the terms of the arrangement it
was quite impossible that there could be any clause for
compensation. With regard to the last question, he hoped
it would not be found necessary to introduce any new legis-
lation on this subject, but that parties would be influenced
by what had already occurred, and Government would
act up to what they considered was the law in reference to
this matter. In reply to some other question, the right
hon. and learned gentleman said that the amount on the
present value of the vessels was £195,000 and that £25,000
would be re,quired for their completion. £300,000 had been
asked for them.

THE REVIEW IN HYDE-PARK.

In r oply to Major Kxos,

Sir G. GREY said that the arrangements on Saturday
wrire made after communications with Sir Richard Mayne,
raid due deliberation on the means best adapted to provide
for the convenience of the public, and the result was that
there was no obstacle or impediment throughout the pro-
ceedings.

Mr PAITLL asked some information as to the arrange,
ments that had been made.

Mr CO WPER said that 4,000 tickets had bean given to
the commanding officeis of the volunteers for distribution
amongst their respective corps. He observed that the con-
duct of the male spectators towards the ladies was most un-
gallant in preventing their seeing the movements of the
volunteer corps.