The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-27 00:00:00

BURMESE PRIZE MONEY.

In reply to Col. NORTH,
Sir C. WOOD replied that some delay had taken place
in consequence of the discovery of some irregularity,
which had been corrected, and he apprehended that now
no delay would take place in the distribution of the money.
CONTINUANCE OF THE RATE IN AID BILL.
In reply to Mr. COBDEN,
Mr. C. VILLIERS intimated that he intended to post-
pone proceeding with this bill until Monday, when it
would stand as the first order.
Committee Postponed until Monday.
CORRUPT PRACTICES AT ELECTIONS.
In reply to Mr. Psext,
Sir G. GREY said that in consequence of the absence of
the Attorney-General from a domestic affliction, he should
postpone the committee until Monday.
Committee accordingly postponed
until Monday.
PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES' AN-
NUITIES BILL.

This bill was read a third time.
BREACH OF PRIVILEGE.

AS CHIEF
THE APPOINTMENT OF MR. REED
- -

NAVAL CONSTRUCTOR.

Sir F. SMITH said ho desired to bring before the house a
question of privilege. Ho ,felt it was his duty, to the
utmost of his power, to uphold the dignity of the house. It
would be in the recollection of the house, that a few nights
ago, whilst the naval estimates were under discussion, he
made some remarks upon the appointment of Mr.
Reed, as chief constructor of the navy. He con-
sidered that appointment open to question ; but, at the
same time, in speaking of Mr. Reed, he thought he
carefully guarded himself from making any unkind or un-
generous remarks. He asked the other evening whether
the person appointed to this important post had ever built
a ship, adding that if the question were answered
in the negative, the
appointment could not

be regarded otherwise than a most improper one,
because the holder of the office exercised great control over
all the dockyards, and the selection of an unqualified officer
wonld assuredly lead to lack of proper management and
discipline. He (Sir F. Smith) urged, in support of the
unfitness of Mr. Reed for the appoiutment, that
he had never been a member of tIP College of
Naval Architecture. It appeared that Mr. Reed had been
brought up in one of the dockyards, and had raised himself
from a very humble position to one of some importance.
As only a humble man himself, he (Sir F. Smith) liked to
see men rise, and rejoiced that Mr. Reed had been
successful in elevating himself in his profession.
He (Mr. Reed) had been sent to the School of

Mathematics and Construction, and had probably dis-

tinguished himself there. Still, as he was not a member
of the College of Naval Architecture, and had never built
a ship, he (Sir F, Smith) must take leave to say he did not
consider him fitted for the appointment conferred upon him.
He could not in that case have had sufficient practical ex-
perience to discharge properly the duties of his office, and
therefore it was wrong to place him at the head of an im-
portant department of the navy, though he confessed he
should have been glad to have seen him falsify the opinion
he had formed with respect to him. Now, yesterday
he received a letter from Mr. Reed complaining of what he
had said in that house :

" In the House of Commons last evening, I hoard you
deny that I had belonged to the Admiralty School of Naval
Architecture, which, though, true verbally—(laughter)—
inasmuch as the school was entitled School of Mathema-
tics and Naval Construction,' is calculated to convey a most
false impression, inasmuch as the school in question was,
in fact, a school of naval architecture inferior in no respects
to that which bore the name previously. Further, I heard
you state that I was without a proper knowiedge of my
profession—in fact, that I knew nothing about the matter.
Now, I call upon you to say why you made this false and
libellous statement concerning me in your place in Parlia-
ment—(laughter)—and on what grounds you justify or at-
tempt to justify it. I beg to assure you that I have not
sought the appointment which the Admiralty have given
to me, and I think you are bound, if you feel called upon to
put forward the claims of a constituent of yours as superior
to mine, to do so without subjecting me to personal abuse
in a place where I can have no opportunity of answering
you. (Laughter.)
Now, first of all, it is quite clear that the writer refers to
Mr. Lang. No one who knows him can doubt his being the
best naval architect we have, and perhaps the best in the
world. Mr. Lang is not a constituent of mine, he never
was a:constituent of mine, his name is not on the register of
Chatham, and it never will be. (Laughter.) I trust the
house will feel with me that, as a member of Parliament, I
am not to be subjected to attacks of this kind in the per-
formance of a simple duty:. (Cheers.) I can assure the
house, and I can assure Mr. Reed, that I have no ill-will
against him, (Hear, hear.) I shall be glad to see him rise
in his profession, and if appointed by the Government, I
hope he will succeed and be useful to the service. I may
be allowed, however, to doubt his ability to do so, But I
think if we are to be curbed in the performance of our duty
by letters of this kind, the House of Commons will be de-
graded ; and I, for one, cannot stand under a stigma of this
kind, of making statements that are false and libellous. The
expressions imputed to me by this gentleman never passed
my mouth, nor can I find any trace of them in the news-
paper reports. But if I did not say it on the former occa-
sion I am ready to say it now ; therefore Mr. Reed will
gain nothing by the step he has taken, for I do say if he has
never constructed a ship the appointment is an improper
one. I was about to move that Mr. Reed be called to the
bar of the house—(Cheers, and cries of " Move") My
noble friend was about, when he stopped me, to propose I
should wait until—(renewed cries of "Move")—lf Mr.
Reed has sent an apology, that would satisfy me. (Move.)
Then, sir, I move that Mr. Reed be called to the bar of the
house. (Cheers.)
The SPEAKER—The hon. memberhaving read a docu-
ment which he thinks a breach of privilege he will be good
enough to bring it to the table.
Sir F. SMITH brought up the letter accordingly, and it
was read to the house by the clerk at the table. The hon.
gentleman then moved that Mr. Reed be called to the bar.
Sir G. GREY said it was not usual to call a gentleman
to the bar of the house till the house had decided that the
conduct complained of was a breach of privilege.
Lord C. PAGET agreed that the letter read was a most
improper letter, but asked the hon. baronet to postpone his
motion, that he might procure a suitable apology from Mr.
Reed.

Mr. ROEBUCK said the offence, such as it was, was an
offence against the house, and the apology, if there was one,
ought to be made at the bar of the house.

The question was then put, and unanimously agreed to,
that the letter in question was a breach of the privileges of
the house.

Sir F. SMITH then moved that Mr. Reed be called to the
bar of the house to-morrow (this day), which was also
agreed to.
THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES'
ANNUITIES BILL.
The bill was read a third time and passed.

THE NAWAB OF THE CARNATIC.
On the motion for going into committee of supply,
Mr. BAILLIE called attention to certain transactions in
India between the Government and the native nrinees from
me year .itno uo wnwarus, oumpitauing of violations of
treaty engagements, and moved a resolution, " That,
whereas by a Royal proclamation addressed to the na-
tive princes and peoples of India, published November 1,
1858, it is stated " that we desire no extension of our pre-
, sent territorial possessions, and while we will permit no
aggression upon our dominions or our rights to be attempted
with impunity, we shall sanction no encroachment on those
of others ;' and again, We hereby announce to the native
princes of India, that all treaties and engagements made
with them by, or under the authority of, the Honourable
East India Company, are by us accepted, and will be scru-
pulously maintained ;' so, in the opinion of this house,
where differences of opinion have arisen with respect to the
interpretation of such treaties, the questions at issue ought
to be referred for decision to her Majesty's Privy
Council."

Mr. SMOLLETT seconded the motion.
Sir C. WOOD defended the Government of India, and
expressed a hope that the house, in dealing with such mat-
ters, would not refer them to the Privy Council, but would
leave them with the responsible Government.

After a few words from Colonel SYKES,
The house then divided upon Mr. Baillie's motion.

Ayes _
24

Noes lO4
Majority against
HASLAR HOSPITAL.
Sir J. HAY wished to correct an impression which ap-
peared to prevail that, in his allusion the other evening to
the prevalence of a loathsome disease amongst the boys in
the training ships, he had intended to include also Haslar
Hospital. He had been informed that there were no cases
in the hospital.

BARRISTERS (IRELAND) BILL.
In reply to the SOLICITOR-GENERAL,
Mr. HENNESSY said he had no objection to postpone
this bill till after Easter.