The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-01 00:00:00

PRIVATE BUSINESS

The Inverness and Perth Junction~
Railway, West
Hartlepool Harbon- and Railway, Peterborough Cattle
Marker 3, Rixtm and Warburtrn Bridge, and Nottingham
Gl,ts Bills were read a second time.

THIRD READINGS.
The Caledoni-m Railway (Bredesholm Deviation), Scar-
borou;th Water, Inverness and Aberd,en Junction Rail-
way, Cleveland Railway, and Rugby Water Bills were read
time aid passed.

THE WAR IN AMERICA.

TAE SEIZURE OF MAIL BAGS.

Earl RUSSELL said as the question of the Peterhoff
and the detention of her Majesty's mails h .d been the sub-
ject of discussion in the house the other evening, it might
be convenient if he stated the substance of some informs •
tion he had received that day from Lord Lyous. Lord
Lyons states that in answer to his application with respect
to the Peterhoff and her cargo, that the Arn,_riean Govern-
ment had determined to send her before the Prize Court.
With regard to the m,il b ►ga sent by her Majesty's Post- 1
master-General, in conformity with the letter of October 31,
th‘y would be sent forward to their destination, and in any
similar case he should proceed in the same course until
some agreement had been arrived at between her Majesty's
Postmaster-General and the United States Government.
He did not think the law of nations laid d ,wn any precise
rule with regard to the somewhat novel practice of forward-
ing mails by private ships, and therefore Mr Seward wished
to make some communication to herM jesty's Government.
He could not state what that communication would be, be-
cause it would be matter for further consideration.
Lord CHELMSFORD asked it he understood the noble
earl to say that the mails would be forwarded without
breaking the seals
Earl RUSSELL said the noble lord had heard him cor-
rectly, and when the communication had been received
from the American Government by her Majesty's Govern-
ment, they would first consider the answer, and what other
steps were to be taken in the matter,

Mr. ADDINGTON asked the Secretary to the Admi-
ralty, whether in the naval barracks now building, and
ordered to be built at the different dockyards, provision
would be made for the accommodation of the wives and
children of sailors, in the same manner as existed at present
for the families of soldiers in military barracks.
Lord C. PAGET explained that the matter had been
very carefully considered by the Admiralty, and they had
come to the conclusion that it would not be advisable that
they should construct naval barracks, with a view to the
accommodation of the wives and children of Bailin. These
barracks were very different to military barracks. Soldiers
went with their wives and families from one barracks to
another ; but when a sailor, who was temporarily lodged in
the naval barracks, went to sea, his wife and children would
years.
have to be turned out, if previously admitted, which would
Lard LYVE DEN remarked that some of the clauses in
the bill were of a very novel character, and seemed to be be a very painful circumstance. The Admiralty would
framed upon the aseumpti n that the honest and respect-
not lose sight of the suggestion made with respect to the
able voter, in a borough were responsible for the acts of education of sailors' children.
the rascally and disreentable section. He would not LUNATICS IN IRELAND.
,
Mr. M'EVOY asked the Chi f Secretary for Ireland
e however, oppose the bill, because he really did not be-
Help, it matter d one farth'ng whether it passed or not. It whether the Government would this session introduce a
bill to extend to Ireland such provisions of the Act 16 and
wee evidently a mere attempt as a salve for the troubled
conscience of the Legislature, which prete- ded to be doing 17 Vic., c. 97, as would enable magistrates to commit dan-
erons lunatics direct to asylums instead of to county gaols
sometneng or importance viry active y, whin in reality it e g
was doing whiz gat all. Were it sincerely desired to stop as
how.
bribery, ni•asures of a much more effectual character might Sir R. PEEL explained that new gaols were building
easily be suggested and adopted. Even if it could not be which would afford the requisite accommodation, wnen the
altogether put down, it might be very sensibly diminished law, as suggested, would be altered.
by a much more summary process than the bill provided. SCHOOL OF NAVAL ARCHITECTURE.
N o public prosecutor was appointel ; and, however notcri-
Sir J. PAKINGTON asked the Secretary to the Admi-
ens the corruption might be, there was nobody to take up ralty, whether the board had considered the necessity of
a revival of a school of naval architecture ; and whether,
the question but the defeated candidate, and he had no me-
in the event of such an institution being established on a
tive to come forward, b. cause, although he might suceeed
in unseating his opponent, he did not thereby seat himself. basis approved by the Board, they would be disposed to ex-
He had consequenny very little and cement to interfere. tend to it encouragement and support.
Moreover, the gentleman who committed the bribery suf-
Lord C. PAGET replied that the Admiralty was deeply
fared no punishment, even if he lost his seat. He lost no
impressed with the absolute necessity that existed for the
social position, nor even the prospect of advancement in the revival of a school of naval architecture. Any proposals
state, or a seat for POMP other pines. All that might be made with that view would receive favourable considera•
very easily remedied. When in the other house he (Lord tion from the Admiralty. The subject was under consi-
"
ann.
Lyvenen) had stood eleven contests, the first of which cost "e
him £4,000, and the last towing to the vigorous conduct of COLONIAL BISHOPRICS AND THE IRISH
his committee) only £4OO. He regretted to say that he did CLERGY
Mr. LEFROY asked the Under Secretary of State for
not think the measure proposed would have the slightest
the Colonies if any of the five colonial bishoprics which had
effect in the world in arresting the system of bribery which
been vacant had been offered to any of the Irish clergy ?
seemed to pervade the whole country.
lb r. C. FORTESCUE explained the nature of these
Lord VERULAM said he would not oppose the bill, vacancies. He had heard it said thee Lancashire, which
though he thought it was wrong and ineffective.
has as large a population as Ireland, had never had any of
Earl GREY thought it was the most absurd piece of
her clergymen selected to fill colonial bishoprics. (Laughter.)
legislation ever presented to the house, if its real object was
One Irish clergyman had been already selected to fill one
to put an end to bribery. What was most important
of the vacancies, and doubtless the noble lord at the head of
was, to stop the present system of " agents," which was
the Government would be glad to appoint eligible candidates
simply a disguise for gross bribery. Those agents were from the Irish clergy as vacancies occurred. (Hear, and
appointed nominally for the se-vice of the electi. n, but, in laughter.)
fact, as a mere blind for paying them for their v rtes, SEIZURE OF THE ALEXANDRA.
and, as had been proved before the committee in the e ,
Id reply to Mr. HITESIDE
House of Commons, it waa the most effective method of
The AT TORNEY•GENERAL said that he was unable
bribery in existence. Bribery, however, could never be
to state when the question would come on for trial.
put down by Act of Parliament. So long as there was
CHICORY.
one set of men determined to be bribed, and another deter- e
In. reply to Sir conneeronoN,
mined to bribe them, no legislation could step the evil.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER explained
Earl RUSSELL thought that, though the bill might not
that the course pursued was the same as on former occa-
be an effectual bar to bribery, it might check the disposition
sions. The duty would be levied by resolution, and imposed
to bribe; and if any clause sh uld be considered objection-
so soon as it received the sanction of the house.
able, it could be altered in committee.
THE GALWAY CONTRACT.
The Earl of DERBY hoped that, as some of the clauses In reply to Lotd Di:MULLIN,
were both novel and important, the bill would not be hastily Mr. PEEL stated that the details of this contract had
sent into committee. not been finally settled.
The bill waa then read a seemed time.
C ARLTON-TERRACE.
HARES (IRELAND) BILL—INCLOSURE BILL.
Mr. LOCKE asked the First Commissioner of Works
These bills were read a second time.
whether he intended to complete Carlton-house-terrace upon
FOR'r IFICATION S AT SPITHEAD,
the vacant ground where the Riding School stood ; and
The Earl of HARDWICKE rose to ask a question with
regard to the continuation of the works on the forts at Spit-
also whether he would propose, during the present session,
head. The session before last considerable sums of money
the continuation of the carriage-way from the Mall in St.
had beeen pia. ed at the disposal of the crown for the put-
James's•park to Charing-cross?
pose o
f strengthening the fortifications of the United King-
Mr. CO WPER replied that the terr ice would be con-
dom. Amongst other ye irks of importance commenced last tinned in the vacant ground, and leases had already been
year were the works at Spithead, for the defence of the en-
granted by the Crown. It was not his intention this year
trance to the channel at that place. After the Govern- to prepare a new carriage way. The committee, it was true,
hay reported in favour of it, but omitted to indicate how
went had expended a large sum of money in nearly corn_
pleting the foundations of those works considerable doubt the expense was to be defrayed. As some houses would
have to be taken down, great expense would, of course, have
iu the public mind as to the efficiency of those fortifi-
cations, and after some discussion Government gave way, to be incurred
and suspended the works for the present. The money THE WAR, IN AMERICA.
thus literally sunk under water was not far short of THE MAIL BAGS OF THE FETERHOFF.
£lOO,OOO. But within the last month an event had taken Mr. FOSTER desired to ask the Under Secretary of
place on the other side of the water, namely, in the port State for Foreign Affairs if he was correct in the surmise
of Charleston, which had awakened the public mind,
that satisfactory information had been received this after-
and also induced him to take that opportunity of asking noon from Ametica with respect to the mail bags of the
her Majesty's Government what were their intentions
Peterhoff.
with regard to the future procedure of the works in sues- Mr. LAYARD—I have to state that to-day a very satia-
tion. The theory had been from the most ancient times that factory despatch has been received at the Foreign-office
the fortress always had an advantage over ships. He could
from Lord Lyons. It states that Mr. Seward had directed
state a number of instances where that had been proved, of
that the mail bags of the Peterhoff should be sent to their
which a few would be sufficient. The noble earl then briefly
destination without being opened. (Hear.)
referred to the case of the Pompey in 1809, commanded by
CUSTOMS AND INLAND REVENUE BILL.
Sir Sidney Smith, which had been beaten off by the single
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the
gun of a martello tower ; to the attack on Copenhagen,
second reading.
when the fleet would doubtless have been destroyed had it Lord R. CECIL said that it was proposed by section 3
continued ; to Algiers, where the ships were thoroughly
of the said bill to impose a new charge upon the people,
beaten off, with the loss of 1,000 men ; and to the proceed-
but that the said proposal had not been referred to a com-
ings in the Black Sea. He maintained that the question
as between forts and ships wan now practically settled, and mitlee of the whole house, as the custom and order
the similarity between the defences of Charleston and Spit- of the house required ; and he moved that theorder for reading the said bill a second time be dis-
head was very remarkable. lie wished, therefore, to know charged. He said he should not have persevered with his
what the Government intended to do, because if the works
were to be proceeded with, it was important not to let the motioa, but addressed himself to that portion of the
Budget which proposed to tax charities ; seeing that it
summer season go by in idleness. H the summer were toe Budget
act so unjustly, he was satisfied the House of Corn-
very large outlay would be required the following year to
mans would never consent to adopt it. He stigmatised tee
put the works in only their present condition. He was re-
eagerness with which the right hon, gentleman was pressing
luctant to offer any opinion as to the wa the money should
on his Budget.
be expended, but it was his own impressiony that a fort
neSwirtalix.oWf
thlLisLoOt)
jUecGtillonßabYleobnjaetcutreel. to the imposition of a
should be erected on the Brambles, ashoal at the head of
the Southampton water, from which central position the
Sir F. CROSSLEY was satisfied the House of Commons
would never agree to perpetuate so much injustice as to -ax
guns could re ich the -bore in each direction, an thus form
a complete defence for the port. the revenues of charitable institutions, which the Legiela-
The Duke of SOMERSET said the works had not been turn had ever been careful to exempt, as much as possible
abandoned, but simply suspended. It had been considered from taxation.
that where there was any doubt as to their efficiency it Mr. HUBBARD spoke with respect to the income tax
would be as well to pause. The expense, however, had not
part of the budget, and characterised the new scheme as
been so large as the noble earl supposed. Up to the 31st of 1 inconsistent. The Chancellor of the Exchequer could adopt
July, 1862, it had been but £53,000, and subsequent events no more satisfactory mode with reference to the income tax
had shown that a more favourable spot for the experiment
could not have been selected. The distance between our than to consolidate all the statutes upon the subject, place
forts at No Man's Land and the sandbanks was exactly them on the table, and take the decision of the house upon
.
2,000 yards, and the distance from Fort Sumter to Fort them. The hon. member expressed his satisfaction with the
Moultrie was exactly 2,000 yards. In both places there was iproposal of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to reduce the
a strong current and tide, and in both there were certain
facilities for approaching within a certain distance of the I inneocommeestatrxomonindustrial sources; but as regarded incomes
fort. In case of an attack the means of defence would be pre- from realised property,
cisely the same, and therefore a more suitable place could not in applying the same principle
he said theo g
of reduction
rreidulict ontihoht. n,ogtehnotmle,mvaio.
have been chosen. With regard to the vessels the result fated an essential principle of taxation, for he was corn-
was not in all respects equally satisfactory. About font.- mencing a graduated system. The concession of £6O upon
teen months ago the world was informed that the American fixed incomes from £lOO to £2.01, was not warranted by any
Government had built an iron-clad ship, which they had
a jeep ed principle of political economy, or of sound legisla-
named the Monitor as a warning to the British Admiralty, man The right hon. gentleman had introduced a graduated
It had been a warning, certainly, seeing that the first gale schemeof assessment which appeared to him to. be exceed-
ittoglY dangerous, and which might lead to all kinds of diffi-
got caught in, it went to the bottom. They then built
cuities,
and
,
gentlemanihiwmaeauluddehaprveecatethde
oefttseectttiwnhiccihassthaegariingsht right bon.
some other vessels of the same description, but they had not
Passing to another
been built of sufficient strength to render the recent experi-
portion 'of the scgheme, he came to a
vent entirely conclusive. Very little, too, was known about • • . .
tit of owder used, and several principle in which be could not concur, provided no ques-
the sort of guns or the
quannt toy beri known before a sound tion should arise as to mere definitions, namely, that of a
other matters veryuniform tax upon incomes. But what were incomes fit the
rents of lards and houses, the productive earnings of indus-
theyjudgment could he arrived at. So far as those particular purposes of taxation? There were incomes from the gross
try, and the repayment of money lent. Were these sources
vessels, however, were concerned, there could be no doubt
of income to be taxed alike ? It they were classed diffe-
had been completely defeated.. With respect to the
further regress of the fortifications, the Government would.
shortly have if they
to lay before Parliament a scheme showing
rently, why should he subject them to a uniform tax; and
if they were not classed differently why remit the tax upon
what was proposed to be done; because,
important not to lot the
of course,
upon
were to be continued, it would be that portion of a man's income which represented the pre.
mina's upon his life policy ? He hoped the right hon.
summer go over.
gentleman would favour them with some explanations
The Earl of DER BY said it appeared that the spot wheret
that point.
the chief damage was done by the concentratedsoo. fire was no
eo much as '2,000 yards, but from 300 to Mr. CLAY said he wished to call the attention of the
right hon. gentleman to a case of peculiar injustice with
The Duke of SOMERSET said from the chart it seemed
that the nearest vessel was about 600 yards from the guns
respect to the proposition affecting charities. When the
of the forts; 2,000 yards was the distance across between Harbour Dues and Passing Tolls Act was introduced by
the forts.
Earl GREY thought that the town of Charleston was six
the right hart. gentleman the President of the Board of
Trade, affecting the interests of the Trinity House and
or seven miles bah nd the ports. If a fleet of similar vessels other analogous corporations who received duesh on shi
were to get as near to the forts at Sthead they would be ping, there was a great deal of discussion, sell resultedt
enabled to shell Portsmouth and the arsenal; and it should in a compromise afterwards sanctioned by Parliament;

DRAINAGE OF LAND (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill was read a third t'tn- and pa,sed.

CORRUP I: PRACTICES AT ELECTIONS BILL,
Earl RUSSELL moved the swcond reading of this bill,

Lord RE LIES OALE obiected to one of the provisions of
the measure, which gave the House of Commons the power
of suspending a writ, under certain conditions, for five