The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-19 00:00:00

OUR EASTERN POLICY.

Mr. FERRAN') gave notice that on Monday next, on
the motion for going into committee of supply, ho would
move that, in the opinion of the house, our eastern policy
was objectionable, and that the agriculturists of the
United Kingdom should be taxed for carrying out this po-
licy, which had for its object merely the extension of com-
mercial objects in which they were not interested.
INDIAN OFFICERS.
Colonel SYKES gave notice that ho would move that,
except in cases of emergency, the appointment of Indian
officers instead of English officers was a violation of the act
of Parliament.
CAPTURE OF THE MAItTABAN.
Mr. G. S. LEFEVRE asked the Under Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs whether it was true that a British
ship, the Martaban, had been captured by the Alabama,
and burnt by order of its captain; and, if so, what steps
the Government aro taking to obtain reparation, and to
prevent the repetition of such outrages P
Mr. LAYARD said that no information had been re-
ceived on the subject by Government, and they know
nothing of the matter except through the newspapers.
RECOGNITION OF MEXICO AS AN EMPIRE.
Mr. S. BEAUMONT asked the Under Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs, it any communications had been
addressed, during the recess. to her Majesty's Government
with the view to a recognition of an empire in Mexico' •
and, if so, whether ho would lay them upon the table of the
house ?
Mr. LAYARD said no such information had been re•
moved by the Government, who declined giving any opinion
on the subject.
THE ROYAL ACADEMY AND THE SALE OF
THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.
Lord ELCHO asked the First Commissioner of Works
whether the Government had taken any, and, if so, what
steps to give effect to the recommendations of the Royal
Commission on the Royal Academy; and, when the re-
moval of the late international exhibition building would
be completed, and what was intended to be done with the
site?
Mr. COWPER said that the Royal Commission had
recommended an alteration in the Royal. Academy, the
executive of which were now deliberating. With regard
b lthouh th removal
to the second question, the site of the International Exhi-
tion had not yet been cleared ;
ut
was going on rapidly, no precise ti ale
had beene fixed for
erecting a building on tho site with reference to the die•
posal of the whole
DUTY ON RAGS.

Lord STANLEY asked the Under Secretary of State
gn Affairs whether her Majesty's Government was
communication with Rey foreign Power with a view to
in
nor Ftrei
the reduction or abolition of the export duty imposed by the
latter on rage; and whether there would be any objection
to an early production of the correspondence.
Mr. LAYARD said the subject had not been lost sight
of by her Majesty's Government, and, as negotiations with
Austria, Portugal, and other States were proceeding, he
trusted the (intuition would not be then pressed.
SALARY OF THE SECRETARY OF THE
CHARITY BOARD.
Mr. FERRAND asked the First Commissioner of the
Charity Board, in what act of Parliament the clause was in-
serted which increases the salary of the secretary from
£6OO to .000 ; and whether public notice was given to the
house that such elute() was intended to be inserted ?
Mr. LOWE said he had hoped the hon. member who
had access to the act of 1860 would have taken the trouble
of informing himself on the subject---(laughter)—but as the
hon. member had not done so, ho (Mr. Lowe) had done so him-
self. The officer in question was a barrister and as there had
been an increase iu hie duties it was thought only just that
there should be an increase in his salary. Ho availed him-
self of that opportunity to make a personal explanation
in reference to what he had raid on a previous
evening, and he wished it to be understood that
it was not his intention to have said anything dew.
gatory to the commissioners of the charity which he con-
sidered one of the ablest, most industrious, and honourable
bodies in her Majesty's service.
REMOVAL OF THE ASSIZES FROM YORK.
Mr. monitirr asked the Secretary of State for the

Home Department, whether it was finally decided that the
assizes should be moved from York to any other p lace ?
Sir G. GREY said that no final decision h. ad been
come to, and no opinion had been expressed on the
subject, but assizes must always necessarily be held
at York. It was recommended that assizes should! be held
at Leeds, but there could be no decision on the subject
until there had been an order in Council.
GOVERNMENT ANNUITIES BILL.

Mr. 11. 13. SHERIDAN asked the Chancellor of the
Exchequer whether it is his intention to proceed with the
Government Annuities Bill this evening.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said ho
had no objection to postpone the bill, and regretted that its
object had not been properly understood. lie would there-
fore postpone the committee until Monday week.