The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-17 00:00:00

conduct of Mr. Christie,' and denied that the address,
Which had been presented to him, represented the wealth,
i❑telligence, or majority of the Britith merchants resident
at Rio. He repeated his belief that the crew of the Prince
of Wales had never been murdered, in-tsmuch as, fritm thi
nature of the coast, it was impossible from them to have
reached the shore alive, and condemned the mode in which
the reprisals had been made.
The subject then dropped.
THE LICENSING SYST M

Mr. LAW SON moved tit. following resolution:" That,
in the opinion of this house, the laws under which licenses
are granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors ara emi-
nently un►atisfactory and deficient in power to protect th,
public, r.nd therefore require immediate alteration."
The CHANCELLOR, of the EXCHEQUER opposed
the motion, on the ground that no advantage could arise
from discussing the question at this period of the session—
and also upon the ground that it was always objectionable
to pass abstract resolutions.
Mr. NEWDEGATE said that from his experience as a
magistrate, he could state that there was no question up 43
which there was a greater a ncurrence of (Onion, that the
liceasing system should be revised. With t espect to the
reduction sail to have taken place in the consumption of
spirituous liquors he feared it was more owing to the d s-
tress prevailing in the manufacturing districts than to any
increase in habits of temperance amongst the working
classes.

Lord FE itilloY thought the hon. gentleman wh t pro.
posed the resolution deserved credit for his good intentions,
but that be was going the wrong way to carry them out
He (Lord Ftraloy) was for free trade upon the general
principle, but not in licenses. It was a mistake to suppose
that publioans as a body were in favour of drunkenness
Drunkards were the great cause of their prosecutions and
penalties, and working men only resorted to public- hou-es
because they had no sources of popular recreation such as
w,re provided by f, reign gov,rnments. That was the
main reason why there was more intemperance iu England
than abroad.

Mr. W. E. FORS'I ER hoped the hon. gentleman would
not press the resolution, because he should h•.ve to vote tor
i', whereas he thought it was a matter which the Govern-
wen, should take up in some comprehensive measure ro as
to improve the present highly unsatisfactory system of li-
censing.
Atter a few words from Sir P. O'BRIEN,

The house divided—

For the resolution
Against it
Majority against reso ution
THE NA."I lONAL GALLERY

Mr. C. BEN TINCK called attention to a recent purchase
for 600 guineas by the trustees of the National Gallery, and
asked the First Lord of the Treasury wuether it was not
desirable to discoL tinue the practice of acquiring at a high
price pictures which wtre not authentic works of the mas-
ters to whom they were attributed, and which were in a
damaged condition.

Mr. PEEL defended the purchase, and stated that there
could be no doubt the picture was painted by Bellini.
Mr. CONINGHAM. condemned the purchase, and aleo
the mode in which all such transactions were managed on
the part of the National Gallery.
The subject then dropped, and the house went into com-
mit tee of supply pro forma.
Tno Fort►fications (Provisions for Expenses) Bill was
read a third time and passed.
The Union Relief Aid Acts Continuance Bill was consi-
dered as amenued, and agreed to.
The Nuisances Removal Act (1855) Amendment Bill
was read a third time and passed.
Several bills were advanced a stage, and the house ad-
journed.