The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-20 00:00:00

THE PRISONS BILL.

The Sheriffs of London appeared in their robes at the
bar and presented a petition from the Lord Mayor and
Corporation m common council assembled against this bill,
on the ground that the ministers of all religious denomi-
nations were frePly admitted, on the application of those in-
caic-rated, to all the prisons in the City.
The petition was read by the Clerk at the table.
ROYAL ASSENT—MESSAGE FROH 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 mmission, 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. NORTHeuTE 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 se.vice, seekir g to be relieved from
income tax.

DISTILLATION (IRELAND).
Oa the motion of Mr. VANCE, a return of all detections
of and commitments for the offence of illicit distillation in
Ireland for the laet three y ars 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 Ireland, 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 hou.4e.
BA,NDA AND KIRWEE BOOTY.
Mr. ANGERSTEIN asked the First Lord of the Trea-
sury, whether the law officers of the Crown had been con-
sulted and prenounced 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
fr om 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.
Lorcz PALME ltS roN could not at the prosept moment
distinctly fix upon a day.
MEXICO—ARMS AND AMUNITION SENT IN AN