The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-21 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 21, 1863.

them prisoners if they can, upon Prussian territory. (Hear.)
I understand also that the engagement is reciprocal, and
that, if any insurrection should occur in the Polish pro-
vinces of Prussia, the Prussian soldiers would be allowed to
pursue the insurgents in Russian Poland, and take prisoners
any insurgents they may find there. Those are, as far
as I can understand from verbal communication, the engage-
ments now existing between Prussia and Russia. As to
Austria, the Ambassador of Austria has read to me a de
spatch showing the policy of the Austrian Government, and
of which I can only give your lordships an outline. The
Austrian Government declared they would take no part with
regard to the Polish insurrection, but that they would
strictly comply with all their engagement with Russia—
that they will not Tina arms or ammunition to cross the
frontier, nor persons in arms as insurgents to take advantage
of any slither in Austria in order to make an at•ack upon
the provinces of Poland. But, beyond this, the Austrian
Government takes no measures such as those I have men-
tioned in the other case. The Austrian Government de.
dared, in the name of the Emperor, that it is his wish
that his subjects in Galicia should enjoy all the
privileges which they have at present; that he will
not send any more troops into Galicia than were there
before the breaking out of the insurrection, but will rely
entirely upon the fidelity of the people. (Loud cheers.) I
could not help observing to the Prussian ambassador that, in
my opinion, the Prussian Government, by taking any share
in the suppression of the insurrection, does in some way
make itself responsible after the fact for the measures of
conscription that have been adopted. (Loud cheers.) I have
now stated to your lordships all that I can at present detail.
As to any advice to be given, that must be a matter of most
serious deliberation. Ido not know at present the whole
extent of the objects and scope of the insurrection. We do
not know whether it may not be a mere movement of de-
spair, against which the influence of property may be suc-
cessfully brought to bear, or whether on the other hand it
may not extend further, and become a national movement.
(Hear, hear.) Under these circumstances I must decline to
produce at present the papers to which the noble earl has
referred.

Earl of MALMESBURY—I do not clearly understand
from the noble earl whether, if insurgents took refuge with-
out being pursued, they are to be given up by the Prussian
Government to the Russian Government. I cannot sit down
without expressing my sincere sorrow at what I have heard
to be the attitude of the Prussian Government. (Loud
cheers.)
Earl RUSSELL-4 have not been informed that there is
any article or stipulation with regard to unarmed refugees.
The discussion then terminated.
PRISON DISCIPLINE.

The Earl of CARNARVON moved the appointment of
the committee to consider and report on the present state•
of discipline in gaols and houses of correction.
The motion was agreed to.
Their lordships adjourned at a quarter past six o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening.

The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.

The following bills were read a second time :—Penzance
and Saint Just Roads, Universal Private Telegraph Com
pany, and Vale of Neath Railway.

PETITIONS.
CONTINUANCE RATE IN AID BILL,

Sir C. TYRELL, from Derby and Toxteth Park, against
this bill as at present constituted.

EPPING FOREST.

Mr. COX, against the appropriation of certain parts to
building, praying for inquiry, and that the rights of the
public might be preserved.
EPISCOPAL PALACE (BRISTOL).

Mr. H: BERKELEY, praying for the restoration of
this palace. He moved that the petition be referred to the
Ecclesiastical Commissioners.
PRIVATE BILL LEGISLATION.

Mr. WHALLEY, from the mayor and corporation of
Gloucester, in favour of the bill for amending legislation on
railway bills.

FIRE INSURANCE.
Lord STANLEY in favour of a modification.
CANADIAN MILITIA.

On the motion of Mr. A. MILLS, the following return
was ordered :—A copy of correspondence between tho Sec-
retary of State for the Colonies and the Government of
Canada on the subject of the Canadian militia, since the
commencement of the year 1862.

`whether the Government would afford their support to
Ismail Pacha in the execution of his declared in'ention to

abolish forced labour in Egypt ?
Lord PALNIERSTON replied that the Government
would, to the best of its ability, support, if needful, the
excellent intentions of Ismail Pacba.

f ment department to which the matter might be entrusted.
I (Hear, hear.) There already existed a standing order
which enabl, d municipal bodies to appear bet°, c com-
mittees when the interests of their districts were in certain
ways affected ; and if the house desired, he should under-
take its revision so as to extend its application also to the
Metropolitan Board of Works. (Hear, hear.)
Mr, AYRTO V thought the public should be indebted to
the enterprise by which such undertakings as they were
then discussing were started, and he had no doubt that in
such a number of schemes some would be found of advantage
to the community. It was obvious, however, that no Go-
vernment department could entertain the responsibility of
deciding which sh( uld go on and which should be rejected.
The question must be left to the responsibility of the com-
mittee of that house; but he hoped means would be taken
for altering the standing order, so as to allow the Board of
Works to appear before the committees by counsel, and pro-
tect the eublic interest.
Mr. NORRIS suggested that before the standing order
was altered care should be taken to exclude commercial in-
terests from being mixed up with that body. Commercial
speculations and local interests would interfere with the due
discharere of their duties before committees, if confided
either to the Corporation of London or the Metropolitan
Board of Works. He thought it would be better to place it
in the hands of some Government department.
Sir G. GREY objected to Government control in this
matter. They might collect information for the guidance
of the house ; but, on the whole, it was better to leave rail-
way accommodation to private enterprise. He was of
opinion that the Board of Works ought to be represented
by counsel before the committees in connection with the
metropolitan railway bills now before Parliament. He be-
lieved there was no objection to produce the papers required.
The motion for the production of the papers was then
agreed to.
PRINCE OF WALES (QUEEN'S MESSAGE).
The report was brought up and agreed to.
BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION (IRE-
LAND) BILL.
The house went into committee.
Clauses up to 8 were agreed to.
On clause 9,
Mr. M'MAHON moved that the expenses of the work-
ing of the bill should be paid out of the Consolid.ted Fund.
The people of Ireland had great objections to further local
taxation.
Mr. GEORGE, who had given notice of amendment,
supported its adoption.
Sir R. PEEL denied that the charge entailed by this
bill would amount to one penny in the pound upon the
valuation in Ireland. The amount of burden would not
be more than five-sixteenths of a penny in the pound upon
the total valuation in Ireland, or £16,800.
The committee then divided on the amendment.
For the clause as it stood .. 38
For the amendment 23
Majority against the amendment.....-15
Clauses 9 to 17 were then agreed to.
On clause 18,
Lord NAAS moved an amendment to compel the guar-
dians to divide their unions into such districts as they, sub-
ject to the approval of the registrar-general, shall see fit,
on or before the Ist day of January, 1864.
Atter some discussion, the committee divided.
For the amendment
Against it
Majority —3o
The amendment was therefore lost, and the clause was
agreed to.
The remaining clauses were agreed to, the house resumed,
and the bill was ordered to be reported.
The Illegitimate Children (Ireland) Bill and the Drain-
age of Land (Ireland) Bill were read a third time and
passed.
THE LONDON COAL AND WINE DUTIES BILL.
In committee of the house, leave was given to bring in
this bill.
Mr. HENNESSY obtained leave to bring in a bill to
amend the law relating to the admission of barristers in
Ireland.

Mr. MONSELL moved the select committee to inquire
into the expenditure incurred since the beginning of 1858
on various natures of improved ordnance, whether obtained
by contract or manufactured in the public departments, and
into the results obtained by such expenditure.
THE PRINCE A ND PR,NCESS OF WALES'S
ANNUITY.
Lord PALMERSTON brought up this bill, which was
read a first time, and appointed to be read a second time on
Moaday next.
The house adjourned at twenty minutes to one o'clock.