The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-27 00:00:00

IMERIAL PARLIAMENI
HOUSE OF LORDS--Last Evening,
The Lord Chancellor took his seat at the usual hour.
THE SLAVE TRADE.
Lord BROUGHAM called the attention of their lord-
ships to the papers laid before the house in reference to the
slave trade, and asked the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs whether her Majesty's Government had cornrawai-,
cared with the Spanish Government in reference to more
rigorous steps being taki'n for the suppressions of the slave
trade.

Earl RUSSELL said all the papers relating to Com-
mander Wilmot's visit to the King of Dahomey had been
submitted to the Government of Spain, who were of opinion
that the slave trade was abominable and inhuman, and pro-
fessed twake every measure in their power forits suppression.
Of late years they certainly had been more energetic, and
the Governor of Cuba had sent home several persons for
trial charged with trafilcing in slaves.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
Worcester, Dean Forest, and Monmouth Railway—Bir-
mingham and Sutton (Coldfield Extension) Railway—
Wexford Free Bridge—Haddington Roads—Midland Rail-
way (New Lines)—Devon Val!ey Railway—Tendring
linadred Railway—and London and North-Western Rail-
way (new branches) bills were read a second time.
The Earl of Fife's Estates Bill were read a third time
and passed,

REGIMENTAL DEBTS BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
INNKEE PERS' LIABILITY BILL.
This bill also passed through committee.
BETHLEHEM HOSPITAL.

The Earl of SHAFTESBURY moved a return of the
annual amount of revenues during the last 10 years' admini-
stration by the authorities of Bethlehem Hospital, the total
amount of money received from parliamentary grants, the
average number of patients in the hospital in each year
for ten years apart from criminal patients, the total
number of the governors of the hospital, the number of
special meetings since January, 1863, in reference
to the removal of the hospital and the number of go-
vernors present on each occasion, and the questions
proposed and the divisions taken. The noble earl
said the time had now arrived when the removal of Beth-
lehem Hospital from its present position was absolutely
necessary, as it was utterly impossible that the
measures now known to effect the best results upon lunatics
with a view to their recovery could be carried out in
the present building. Fifty years ago the present Bethlehem
stood in the midst of fields; but how was it now ? There
was little more than 19 acres left in its original state, and
he did not think any person would consider that suffi-
cient space for the purposes of such a vast institu-
tion as Bethlehem, where it was absolutely necessary
the patients should not be subject to over-crowding, but,
on the contrary, have the greatest amount of fresh air,
without which it was totally impossible there could be
the slightest hope of their ultimate recovery. The manner
in which the governors conducted the institution was most
expensive, and he did not know of any charity where its
privileges were administered with less advantage. One of the
great reasons that had been urged in favour of keeping
Bethlehem was that the patients would be deprived
of the amusement of walking down Newington-cause-
way and looking at the shops, but he could hardly
imagine a more ridiculous notion. Another reason for its
removal was, that the institution should not be put to the
expense of removal. Why, the institution was supported
by the public, and if the public wished for its removal,
why should it not take place ? Bethlehem Hospital had the
magnificent income of £20,000 per annum, and yet
only 200 patients, or on the average 240, were weekly
maintained in the institution. Such an income ought at
least to admit of the maintenance of 400 or 500 inmates.
Surely the public had a right to demand the fullest develop-
ment possible of this great institution. They could do no
wrong to any one by insisting upcn the acceptance of the
offer now made. They could do a vast amount of great
and permanent good by removing Bethlehem to the coun-
try, and enlarging its sphere and power of action. The
noble lord concluded by moving for-1, The annual amount
of the revenues during the last 10 years administered by the
authorities of Bethlehem Hospital; 2, Total amount of money
received by the hospital by Parliamentary grants ; 3, Ave-
rage number of patients in the hospital in each year for
10 years, apart from the criminal patients; 4, The total
number of governors of the hospital ; 5, Number of special
meetings since January, 1863, in reference to the removal
of Bethlehem Hospital, and number of governors present on
each occasion; 6, The questions proposed and the divisions
taken.

Earl GRANVILLE said there could be no objection
whatever to the motion for the production of the pepers.
He merely got up, instead of giving a silent assent, to say
that the noble lord was by no means singular in the opi-
nions which he had expressed. A strong proof of that was
to be seen in the fact that, although there were a good
many governors of Bethlehem Hospital in their lordships'
house, not one had thought it necessary to rise and offer
any opposition, or to controvert the opinions of the noble
earl. The noble lord had taken the best mode of promoting
the object which he had in view, by bringing it prominently
before the public. In fact, it was only by bringing public
opinion to bear strongly upon it that he would succeed. In
thus stating his own agreement in the opinion expressed
regarding Bethlehem, he (Earl Granville) should at the
same time disclaim the pronouncement of any opinion upon
the merits of the question as to the other hospital which had
been mentioned in connection with the motion. (Hear,)
The motion was then agreed to.
AMERICAN PRIZE COURTS—THE CASE OF
THE DOLPHIN.

The 'Marquis of CLANRICARDE, in moving for papers
connected with the recent decisions in the American
prize courts, took occasion to defend himself from the ani-

madversions made in the last debate upon the prize-court
queetion by Earl Russell. He asserted that he had merely
recited the decisions of American and English lawyers and
judges. It was absolutely necessary that we should know
as soon as possible the decisions of the American prize
courts, in order that our Royal navy, no less than our mer.

chant navy, should be guided in the course they should
pursue. If the judgment pronounced against the Dolphin
had been correctly reported in the newspapers, he asserted
that an entirely new and inadmissible doctrine had been
laid down, one which was contrary to that pro-
pounded by her Majesty's Privy Council. It was
maintained that suspicion was enough to justify the de-
tention of a vessel, and that the onuQ of proving innocence
should be thrown upon the owner. The owner was to prove
a negative. A captain of a British man-of-war was con-
demned in the last war, and had to pay he ivy costs for seiz
ing a vessel under the very circumstances that had just
been held sufficient to justify the seizure and condemnation
of the Dolphin. He hoped that this horrible and unneces-
sary war would soon be at an end, and that many irregu-
larities which had arisen during it would not survive. It
was generally reported that the Emperor of the French had
made a renewed proposal to this country, that the two
Powers should formally recognise those States which we
had already long since acknowledged as a belligerent power,
although we had not as yet recsgnised their Government
as an independent one, even though it had shown itself
capable of performing all the functions and maintaining the
rights of Government. He begged, therefore, to ask the

noble earl whether any reports of the proceedings in the

prize courts of the United States of America, especially in
reference to the case of the Dolphin, have been received at

the Foreign.offiee—and whether it was true, as reported

that the Emperor of the French had invited her Majesty's
Government to join in any recognition of the Confederate

States of America ?

Earl RUSSELL, in reply to the first question, said a re-
port, which appeared to be an authentic report of what bad
taken place in the case of the Dolphin, had been received

that evening at the Foreign-office. As to the doctrines to
which the noble lord objected, he (Earl Russell) should
observe that they were laid down by Lord Stowell. But as
to whether the decision in the case of the Dolphin was in
accordance with these doctrines or not, he offered no opi-
nion at present. With regard to the second question—whe-
ther any communication had been made to this country by
the Emperor of the French upon the subject of recognising
the Southern Confederate States of America—he had to
state that no such communication had been received. He
(Earl Russell) did not think that the circumstances of the case
had been much altered since the question had been brought
forward by Lord Stratheden; and he remained still of the
opinion which he had then expressed. His lordship con-
cluded by laying the report from America upon the table.
ENCLOSURE (No. 2) BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
LEASES AND SALES OF SE rTLED ESTATES
ACT AMENDMENT BILL,
The report on the amendments made in, this bill was
received. _

vv
AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE TREATYx BILL.
this bill, It
Earl RUSSELL moved the third reading
accordingly read a third time and Pa
SECURITY FROM VIOLENCE 'BILL
This bill was read a third time and passed ; as also
the Inland Revenue Bill, and the Militia Pay Bill. were
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening.
The SPEAKER took the chair at twelve o'clock.
PUBLIC WORKS MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS

(ADVANCES) BILL.

Mr. VILLIERS brought up the report on this bill.
Mr. BENTICK expressed a hope that the security the
right hon. gentleman proposed to offer was of a valid and
substantial character, and that there was a reasonable pros-
pect of the money finding its way back in due time into the
public pulse. He did not consider that emigration was the
only remedy for the present distress, but he hoped it was
not true that the manufacturers were opposed to it on the
selfish g round that they might require the labour. He
trusted that the right hon. gentleman would explain the
views of the Government on the point.

Mr. ASPINAL TURNER denied the common rumour
that the millowners had made large fortunes out of the pre.
sent crisis. Many persons, clergymen as well as others,
foreseeing the failure in the supply of cotton, had treasured
it up, and thus made considerable sums of money.
/tr. FURRA.ND denounced the bill as a miserable one,