The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-21 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT sGasseeßoinlld time :—Hoylake Railway Bill, and Yarmouth
The following bills were considered and ord red to lad
read a third time :—Cheitenham Roads, Rusth ,11 Manor,
Staines and Woking Junction Railway, and Sowerby
Bridge Local Board.
THE PRISONS BILL.
The Sheriffs of London appeared in their robes at the
bar and presented a petition from the Lord Mayor and
Corporation in common council assembled against this bill,
on the ground that the ministers of all religious denomi-
nations were freely admitted, on the application of those in-
carcerated, to all the prisons in the City.
The petition was read by the Clerk at the table.
ROYAL ASSENT—MESSAGE FROM THE LORDS.
Col. CLIFFORD, Deputy Usher of the Black Rod, appeared
at the table, and summoned the Speaker and the house to
hear the Royal assent given, by c,,rurnission, to several bills.
On the return of the Speaker at a quarter .past 4 o'clock,
the right hon. gentleman read the titles of the bills.
PETITIONS.
A large number of petitions were presented against the
Prisons Bill ; a few from Catholic churches in its favour.
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.
On the motion of Sir S, NORTHCOTE some voluminous
returns from 1840 to 1862 were ordered.
EAST INDIA.
On the motion of Colonel SYKES, several papers were
ordered, with respect to a memorial of certain retired mem-
bers of the Indian civil service, seeking to be relieved from
income tax.

HOUSE OF LORDS—Last Evening.
The Lord Chancellor took his seat at the usual hour.
ROYAL ASSENT.

The I' al assent was given, by commission, to the
following bills :
Salmon Exportation.
Births and_Deathe Registration (Ireland).
Mutiny.
Marine Mutiny.
The Lords Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor,
Lord Sydney, and the Earl of St. Germans.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following bills were read a second time:,--The Den-
bigh Water—the Market Harborough and Lolighborough
Road—the Queen's Road (Battersea) Extension—the St.
Asaph Road—the London and North Western and Lanca-
shire and Yorkshire Railway Companies—and the South
Staffordshire Railway.
The Cambridge, St. John's. lane Stoppage, &c., Bill was
read a third time and passed.

DISTILLATION (IRELAND).
On the motion of Mr. VANCE, a return of all detections
of and commitments for the offence of illicit distillation in
Ireland for the last three years respectively, ending on the
31st day of March in each year, was ordered.
DISTRESS IN IRELAND.

Mr. GREGORY asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland
whether any reports from the Poor Law Inspectors had
reached him as to the state of destitution in the western dis-
tricts of Galway and Mayo ; if so, whether he would lay
these reports before the house ; if not, if he would order the
inspectors to report as to the condition of those districts?
Sir R. PEEL replied that reports were certainly sent in
from the Inspectors in all parts of Irelan,/, which had been
printed. The recent reports treating of the increased dis-
tress in the country he had no objection to lay on the table
of the house.
BANDA AND KIR WEE BOOTY.
Mr. ANGERSTEIN asked the First Lord of the Trea-
sury, whether the law officers of the Crown had been con-
sulted and pronounced their opinion on the subject of this
booty, and whether there was any objection to communi-
cate their opinion to the house ; whether it was the inten-
tion of the Government to recommend the distribution of
this prize money according to the opinion of the law officers
of the Crown; and, if the preferential right of the actual
captors had been established, whether there was any other
cause for delay in di-tributing this prize money ?
Lord PALMERSTON replied that no final decision had
been arrived at, and that the subject was still under con-
sideration. Only lately he received a counter statement
from parties claiming a share of the booty, The question for
decision did not turn upon a matter of law, so that the
matter did not rest with the law officers of the Crown, but
with the Crown itself, The decision must be entirely
governed by principles of equity and justice of the circum-
stances.
Mr. ANGERSTEIN asked the noble lord to name a day
when he could repeat the question with the prospect of ob-
taining a reply as to when the booty would be distributed.
Lore PALMERSTON could not at the present moment
distinctly fix apon a day.
MEXICO—ARMS AND AMMUNITION SENT IN
AN AMERICAN SHIP.
In reply to Mr. PEACOCK;
Mr. LAYARD stated that the granting by Mr. Adams,
the American Minister, of permission to an American
ship to carry arms:and ammunition toMexico,was under the
consideration of the Government. No communication had
yet been made to Mr. Adams.
THE POLICE FORCE.

Mr. KEKEWICH asked the Secretary to the Treasury
whether the sum voted by Parliament for the police force
in counties and boroughs was calculated on the net ex-
penditure, after deducting the amount of the superannua-
tion fund, rent, fines, and stoppages; and, if so, for what
reason the Government objected to repay one-fourth of the
whole amount expended for the pay and clothing ?
Mr. F. PEEL explained the principle pursued in this
matter. A deputation had attended the Treasury, with
respect to the statements which were now under consi-
deration.